# Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board *Minnesota state economic development agency for the Iron Range* The Minnesota Department of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation (IRRRB) is a [[Minnesota]] state agency that promotes economic growth on the Iron Range in the northeast of the state.[^1] Its headquarters are in Eveleth.[^2] Wikipedia dates the board's founding to 1941. It says the board was set up to help the region withstand the swings of the mining economy.[^3] The record links two Minnesota statutes to the board. The project's claim:link catalogue indexes subdivision 1a of Minn. Stat. §298.22 under the board's name.[^4] The same catalogue indexes Minn. Stat. §469.169 under the board's name. It files that section under the project's Theory 10, which concerns thirteen Minnesota statutes exempt from the Administrative Procedure Act. That theory is the project's own analysis, not a court or agency finding.[^5] The statute text, the enacting session law, the amendment history, and the party and date of enactment are not in this record, so they are not stated here. The agency's published mission describes investment to "foster vibrant growth and economic prosperity in northeastern Minnesota".[^6] The record gives a 2024 budget of $67.8 million.[^7] It carries no grant or loan counts, audit, or Legislative Auditor finding against which that stated mission can be measured. ## History At its founding, the board was charged with putting taconite-mining proceeds toward wider development in the region.[^3] Mining companies do not pay property taxes on taconite production. Instead they pay a production tax to local government units, among them cities, school districts and the IRRRB.[^8] ## Mission and funding The agency states its mission as to "invest in resources to foster vibrant growth and economic prosperity in northeastern Minnesota by enhancing livable communities, maximizing collaborations and partnerships and strengthen businesses and worker education."[^6] Its funding programs include low- or no-interest loans and grants to businesses that relocate to or expand in the region. Local governments, educational institutions and nonprofits can also apply for grants aimed at workforce development and sustainable communities.[^6] Wikipedia reports that the organization's 2024 budget was $67.8 million. No primary budget document for that figure is in the record.[^7] ## Governance The sitting [[governor]] appoints the agency's commissioner, who sits in the governor's cabinet.[^9] As of the Wikipedia revision retrieved on 26 October 2026, the commissioner was Ida Rukavina, a daughter of former Minnesota legislator Tom Rukavina.[^9] The IRRR Advisory Board is made up of the state senators and representatives whose districts have at least one-third of their residents living within the taconite assistance area.[^10] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - The governor appoints the commissioner, a member of the governor's cabinet. As of October 2026 the commissioner was Ida Rukavina.[^9] - Legislators from districts with one-third or more of their residents in the taconite assistance area make up the IRRR Advisory Board.[^10] ### What - The IRRRB is a state economic development agency for the Iron Range.[^1] - The project's claim:link catalogue indexes Minn. Stat. §298.22 subd. 1a and Minn. Stat. §469.169 under the board's name.[^4][^5] ### When - Founded in 1941, according to Wikipedia.[^3] ### Where - Headquartered in Eveleth, Minnesota.[^2] ### How much - 2024 budget: $67.8 million, according to Wikipedia.[^7] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia, *Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board* (revision 1372543458, retrieved 2026-10-26) — describes the IRRRB as a State of Minnesota economic development agency for the Iron Range. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Range_Resources_and_Rehabilitation_Board [^2]: Wikipedia, *Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board* (revision 1372543458, retrieved 2026-10-26) — gives Eveleth, Minnesota, as the headquarters. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Range_Resources_and_Rehabilitation_Board [^3]: Wikipedia, *Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board* (revision 1372543458, retrieved 2026-10-26) — gives the 1941 founding, the use of taconite-mining proceeds, and the boom-and-bust purpose. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Range_Resources_and_Rehabilitation_Board [^4]: Minnesota Revisor of Statutes, *Minn. Stat. §298.22* (current text) — section indexed in the project's claim:link catalogue as subd. 1a, Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/298.22 [^5]: Minnesota Revisor of Statutes, *Minn. Stat. §469.169* (current text) — section indexed in the project's claim:link catalogue under the board's name and filed under Theory 10 (APA-exempt statutes). https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/469.169 [^6]: Wikipedia, *Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board* (revision 1372543458, retrieved 2026-10-26) — quotes the agency's mission statement and describes its loan and grant programs. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Range_Resources_and_Rehabilitation_Board [^7]: Wikipedia, *Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board* (revision 1372543458, retrieved 2026-10-26) — gives the 2024 budget of $67.8 million. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Range_Resources_and_Rehabilitation_Board [^8]: Wikipedia, *Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board* (revision 1372543458, retrieved 2026-10-26) — describes taconite production taxes paid in place of property taxes to cities, school districts and the IRRRB. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Range_Resources_and_Rehabilitation_Board [^9]: Wikipedia, *Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board* (revision 1372543458, retrieved 2026-10-26) — gives the commissioner's appointment by the governor, cabinet membership, and the commissioner named at retrieval. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Range_Resources_and_Rehabilitation_Board [^10]: Wikipedia, *Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board* (revision 1372543458, retrieved 2026-10-26) — gives the composition of the IRRR Advisory Board. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Range_Resources_and_Rehabilitation_Board