We enjoyed time engaging with our business community and building new connections during this event. Attendees had a chance to provide a brief update on their organization, including:

• Mining Minnesota: Inspired by everything happening across the Range. Save the date for the Celebrating Women in Mining luncheon on June 15th at the Minnesota Discovery Center.
• Iron Range Tourism Bureau: Has both a community calendar and tourism calendar - share your events with them to get listed.
• Habitat for Humanity: Seeking community support and volunteers to help with homebuilding on the Iron Range. Closing two homes built last year in Virginia and starting five more this year.
• Minnesota Discovery Center: Appreciate the support for the Annual Iron Range Science and Engineering Festival, supporting STEM youth education.
• Minnesota North College: Minnesota North College is hosting an open house today (April 8) from 3–6 PM. Great opportunity for employees or students exploring college options to stop by.
• Essentia Health: Enjoy getting out to network with community members and open to conversations about how Essentia can partner with local organizations and businesses.
• Thrivent: Tax season is ending soon -  if you want to contribute to your 2025 Roth IRA, you must do it before next week.
• Virginia Community Foundation: Serving as fiscal agent for the City of Virginia's splash pad fundraiser at Silver Lake. Look for the fundraising thermometer as you drive by - let's make it happen!
• Midwest Communications: Operates six radio stations based out of Hibbing, plus digital advertising services for regional businesses.
• Rachel K CPR: Teaches safety training - first aid, CPR, and more. Also pursuing her Blue Card to teach MSHA Training. Note: her CPR class will be available on the live auction at the Youth for Christ Gala this Friday.
• Park State Bank: Here to connect with the community and support home financing needs as well as business clients looking for business loans.
• Cleveland-Cliffs: Grateful for the ongoing community support of Cleveland-Cliffs' facilities in Minnesota.
• Rep. Pete Stauber: Working on the Congressional Review Act (CRA), which has passed the House and is heading to the Senate. The CRA would overturn the Biden administration's 20-year ban on mining in the Superior National Forest.
• UMD Labovitz School of Business & Economics: Connects students with job opportunities in rural Minnesota, including an Iron scholarship for rural placements.
• Twin Metals: Focused on the CRA to restore federal mineral access and resume the environmental review process for Twin Metals' project. Continuing exploration and drilling, plan to potentially add a second drilling rig for the summer.
• NewRange Copper Nickel: Two positions currently posted, with approximately 18 more coming soon. Stay tuned for an exciting updated mine plan of operation.
• Alzheimer's Association: Hosting a meet & greet today (April 8) at noon, walk on September 19th, seeking volunteers and committee members
• Human Rights Commission: Hosting a Spring Adult Prom on April 18th, 7–10:30 PM at the Chair - tickets support the Human Rights Commission.
• City of Virginia: Exciting updates ahead: the splash pad project, housing development in progress, and new developers showing interest in Virginia.
• The Forge Social Haus: Enjoy getting out to network with community members
• Northridge Community Credit Union: Has exciting new programs launching this summer to support local schools - details coming soon.
• Northern Star Scouting: Volunteer-led scouting focused on youth development and outdoor programming. Scout Expo Saturday, April 11th, at the mall from 10 AM–2 PM. Planning a Girls in Scouting Summit in Virginia in the coming months.
• Hometown Focus: the only locally-owned community newspaper in Minnesota - celebrating 18 years in business this week.
• Rotary Club: Known for the kids fishing contest, chili cook-off, and scholarships.
• North Star Credit Union: Excited to be part of the community and has a long history working with the NTS team.
• United Way of NE MN: Just celebrated their 60th anniversary. Day of Action on June 26th in Chisholm - volunteer opportunities for all ages. The Oral Health Task Force, working with the U of M Dental School on workforce development. Also developed an oral health crisis fund — if you know someone who can't afford dental care, they can contact United Way to access it.
• Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation: Mineland Vision Partnership meeting May 20th at Mineland Rec Center in Chisholm, 9:30 AM–noon. Guest speaker Aaron Mandelin will present on the Permanent School Trust Fund. A constitutional amendment on the November ballot would allow more of the fund to be distributed to school districts across Minnesota.
• Bolton & Menk: Works with communities across the Range and partners with local firms like NTS.
• Mesabi Youth for Christ: Hosting their annual dinner on April 10th, have 29 sponsors this year, and students will be making desserts as a fundraiser for this event.
• Paper Pie: Sells a fun and excellent line of children's books.
• RAMS: Echoes the importance of the Permanent School Fund amendment — currently generates $60M+ statewide with only $2M going to Range schools; a 'yes' vote in November could push that to $3M. RAMS Lobby Day: April 14th in St. Paul. Ranger Party: April 27th at Mancini's. E. Lee Brownfield's Lunch and Learn coming in May.
• Komatsu: Enjoy getting out to network with community members & seeing the work NTS & Mining Minnesota are doing

A huge thank you to Northeast Technical Services and Mining Minnesota for hosting this wonderful event, your participation is what makes these gatherings so impactful.

Thank you to everyone who attended and made this Breakfast Connections a memorable morning. If you missed it, don't worry - there are plenty more networking opportunities coming up!

Our next Breakfast Connections event will be May 13th at Habitat for Humanity so mark your calendars!