Industry & Work Force

Wintergreen Designs, one of Ely's homegrown industries

Ely is a nationally known community that attracts a skilled, professional labor force from all over the United States.  These men and women have a firm foundation in education, love of area and home-ownership.

Low absenteeism, minimal labor turnover, a strong work ethic, and adaptability to change distinguishes Ely's workforce from other parts of the country. 

Technology Industry

Modern telecommunication infrastructure provides Ely the advantage of location, workforce and fast broadband connection through fiber optic cable, DSL and fixed wireless. Currently, two major processing centers (MN Department of Revenue and Carlson Wagonlit)  operate in the Ely Technology Park. Many other technological, data processing and service related businesses are locating to the area.

Training

Ely's Work Force at a Glance*
Total employees (2000 census)	2643
4 employers employ	100-250
5 employers employ	50-99
8 employers employ	25-49
20 employers employ	10-24
Median school years completed:	12.4
Percent HS or higher education:	88%
Employed person by occupation:
Executive/administration/managerial	1.7%
Professional specialties	11.0%
Technical and related	2.7%
Sales	7.8%
Administrative support	14.3%
Protective service	1.2%
Other service occupations	15.2%
Farming/forestry/fisheries	1.6%
Precision production/craftsmen	16.7%
Machine operators & assemblers	4.9%
Transportation & material moving	9.7%
Handlers, laborers, etc.	3.2%

The Ely Economic and Technology Center provides businesses with customized training, access to fiber optics, access to business counseling services, economic development information, and small business development.

Vermillion Community College in Ely provides:

• Technical and pre-employment custom training
• In-house, in-service training for new and existing businesses in the area
• Education to meet the specific needs of job seekers and employers.

Employer services available through the Iron Range Rehabilitation and Resources Agency's "Make it Home" program. Minnesota Workforce Center programs include:  job applicant testing; statewide computerized access to job applicants; multi state-run system; recruitment and referral; and an employer information center.

Tourism: Retail and Hospitality

Ely is surrounded by over five million acres of natural forest and wilderness area, that makes our area unique for business and play. A wide variety of accommodations are available for tourists including 34 resorts within 30 miles, 17 canoe outfitters, six motels, and ten campgrounds. The area is served by many specialty shops, restaurants, and a unique downtown retail shopping area with complete services.  For business meetings, Ely has a modern 61-unit Grand Ely Lodge Resort  (the view at the top of the page is from the Lodge).

The Front Porch Coffee & Tea Company, an internet cafe located in town, provides free wireless connection for laptops, desktop PCs for rent, and a private small room for meetings.

Visit The Ely Chamber of Commerce web site for more information on the Ely area's tourist industry.

Heavy Industry

The Ely area's heavy industry basically consists of the logging industry, building and road construction.  Taconite mines on the Iron Range continue to employ a number of area residents.  Mining exploration in the area seeks to identify the many mineral elements found in the underlying bed rock.

The Ely area supports many independent loggers and logging companies who contract to haul aspen to paper mills and wafer board plants that are within 85 miles of Ely.

Complete building trade skills are available in Ely, and construction materials are available locally at the Voyageur Lumber & Building Center.

Major Employers in Ely

• Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital, Medical services, 250 employees
• Vermilion Community College, Educational services, 111 employees
• Carlson Wagonlit,Travel Service Call Center, 91 employees
• School District 696, Educational services, 107 employees
• Leustek and Sons, Heavy construction, 75 employees
• MN Department of Revenue, Collections, 90 employees
• Irresistible Ink, Division Hallmark Cards Writing service, 60 employees
• Grand Ely Lodge, 61 employees
• Zup's Ely & Babbitt, Retail/wholesale groceries and catering, 45 employees
• U.S. Forest Service, Forest Management, 48 employees
• St. Louis County, Management/Service, 41 Ely employees
• St. Mary's / Duluth Clinic, Ely - medical, 40 employees
• City of Ely, Government, 42 employees
• Steger Designs, Ely - Footwear manufacturer, 37 employees
• North Country Market, Ely - Food market, 35 employees
• Piragis Northwoods Company, Ely - retail, outfitting, 35 employees
• Wintergreen Designs, Ely - winter apparel, 23 employees
• Boathouse Brewpub, Ely - Food/beverage, 25 employees
• Ely Steak House, Food/beverage, 25 employees
• Ely Echo, Publishing, newspaper, 20 employees
• Wells Fargo, Banking, insurance, 15 employees
• American Fraternal Union, Fraternal insurance headquarters, 12 employees and 100 agents
• Boundary Waters Community Bank, Banking, 16 employees
• Pamida, Convenience Stores, 32 employees
• Viking Pulpers, logging, 15 employees
• YMCA Camps Widjiwagan and Du Nord, year-round camps, 15 employees
• Mike Motors, car dealership, 14 employees
• Razor's Edge Systems, sharpening equipment, 14 employees
• Voyageur Outward Bound School, Adventure training, 14 employees
• Range Medical Transcription, medical transcription, 10 employees
• International Wolf Center, 8 employees
• Chamber of Commerce
• WELY, Boundary Waters Broadcasters, local radio station, 5 employees
• YPRO, medical accounting, 6 employees
• Timberjay, Newspaper, 2 employees
• Voltz, Ely - Internet wireless broadband, computer networking, 5 employees
• Lutefisk Technologies, Ely - networking, computer maintenance, hosting, web design, 4 employees
• Webgoddess.net, Babbitt  - internet design and consulting, hosting
• Several other restaurants, gift shops, and service businesses