Area Development News

Here is some of the area news on the economic development front.

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Project Firefly Receives Grants
Posted on Dec 20 2007
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( Ely, MN ) Project Firefly™, an initiative of the Ely Area Development Association (EADA), recently received grants totaling $100,000 from Blandin Foundation and Iron Range Resources. The organizations each contributed $50,000 in matching funds and are joined by other regional, state and federal entities providing funding to further development of innovation in the Ely area.

Wade Fauth, Grants Program Director at Blandin Foundation based in Grand Rapids, MN, said, "The mission of Blandin Foundation is to strengthen communities in rural Minnesota, especially the Grand Rapids area. We understand that Project Firefly™ is developing a new model for economic development and we look forward to seeing the results.”

Sandy Layman, Commissioner, Iron Range Resources based in Eveleth, MN , said, “Iron Range Resources is focused on developing regional capacities. The agency is interested in creative, new approaches to encourage manufacturing. We view Project Firefly™ in Ely as a potential means to enhance manufacturing capacity in the region.”

Sandy Layman, Commissioner, Iron Range Resources based in Eveleth, MN said, "Iron Range Resources is focused on developing regional capacities. The agency is interested in creative, new approaches to encourage manufacturing. We view Project Firefly in Ely as a potential means to enhance manufacturing capacity in the region."

Minnesota Power recently awarded $2,500 for on-going project work and training and Vermilion Community College staff negotiated $5,000 for project management, lean product development and on-line marketing development training through a Department of Labor - Education and Training Administration (DOL - ETA) grant. MN Technology, Inc. staff will provide a product development training for Project Firefly in Ely in January. A recent $10,000 SPEDCO grant through the St. Paul Foundation was announced in October.

Project Firefly is designed to develop local innovation in the Ely area. An initial $50,000 Blandin Foundation grant awarded in 2006 was used to conduct a survey of local and area metal manufacturing capacity, establish the Innovators' Circle, and identify several products for enhancement by members of the Innovator Circle. The Innovators' Circle is comprised of area citizens who are talented in the areas of mechanical design and engineering. Products move through the Innovators Circle where designs are improved before going to prototype. The proposals submitted to Blandin Foundation and Iron Range Resources were for continuation of the current work and for pursuing the next phase of product development.

Pat Henderson, Ely Area Development Association Executive Director and Project Coordinator for Project Firefly said, "We are very grateful to Blandin Foundation, Iron Range Resources and our other partners for grant awards which will allow us to proceed with a product evaluation process and product prototyping. A great deal of the credit for work in the first phases of Project Firefly goes to members of the Innovators' Circle who recommend design improvements as we move products through the process. We are also pleased to have the support of many partners in the region. These partnerships and the resulting funding come at a critical time as we advance the project."

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