Delivered for District 3A

Communicate, cooperate, collaborate. Here’s what that’s meant for northern Minnesota.

Community leaders in hard hats break ground at the Wilderness Escape workforce housing site in front of the project sign

Photo: Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation

Workforce housing, built together

Good jobs need places for people to live. Working across the aisle, I was glad to help secure a $4.58 million grant from Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation (IRRR) and a $1.5 million state loan for the Wilderness Escape workforce housing project.

It’s housing that people who work in our communities can afford to live in. And it came together because people sat down at the same table and focused on what northern Minnesota needed.

Project by project

Since 2023, I’ve worked with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to help secure these projects for our communities. Every amount below is in state law, and every one passed with my vote.

Ely and the Vermilion area

  • $3.9 million for Ely water infrastructure, including the Burntside Lake intake and the water treatment plant (2026)
  • $250,000 for the Boundary Waters Care Center in Ely (2025)
  • $11 million for Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park: visitor center, camping, trails and a fishing pier (2023)
  • $2 million for Babbitt water, sewer and utility extensions (2023)
  • $1.75 million for the Hoyt Lakes community recreation and wellness center (2023)

International Falls and Voyageurs

  • $4.8 million for the International Falls water treatment facility (2026)
  • $1 million for design of a regional health and wellness center in International Falls (2023)
  • $3.5 million for a new Rainy Lake marina in Ranier (2023)
  • $554,000 for a new Ranier public works building (2026)
  • $1.9 million for the Voyageurs National Park visitor center, campground and boat ramp at Crane Lake (2023)
  • $2 million for clean water grants for sewer projects that protect Voyageurs National Park (2023)

Cook, Bigfork and our trails

  • $1.5 million for Cook public infrastructure (2026)
  • $1.5 million for renovating and expanding the Bigfork community center (2023)
  • $750,000 for the Voyageur Country ATV trail system (2023)
  • $700,000 for a new trail in the Prospector ATV trail system (2023)

The North Shore and Cook County

  • $1.9 million for the Grand Marais wastewater treatment plant (2026)
  • $1 million for the Gunflint Trail Scenic Byway, final 10 miles (2026)
  • $4 million for the Gitchi-Gami State Trail (2023)
  • $2.37 million for the Silver Bay multimodal trailhead (2023)
  • $1.07 million for Silver Bay water pressure improvements (2026)

Where I serve

  • Co-Vice Chair, Legacy Finance
  • Member, Capital Investment
  • Member, Housing Finance and Policy
  • Member, Transportation Finance and Policy

Capital Investment is where the bonding bill gets built.

Still working on

There’s more to do. These are my priorities for next session:

  • EMS resources for rural communities
  • Mental health services closer to home
  • Rural emergency communication

None of these are finished. I’ll keep working on them with anyone willing to help, from either party.

Sources

Amounts are as enacted in these laws:

Wilderness Escape: Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation board grant and state loan.

Help keep this work going

Vote Tuesday, Nov. 3. Early voting is open now at sos.mn.gov.

Prepared and Paid for by the Roger Skraba Campaign Committee, PO Box 152, Ely, MN 55731.