In Business | EP 7: How Northern Minnesota is Navigating Economic Uncertainty

In this episode of In Business, we reflect on the milestones of 2025 and look ahead to the challenges and opportunities facing the Twin Ports and the Iron Range. From massive construction projects like the Essentia health complex to the shifting markets in the mining industry, our panel of experts breaks down what residents and business owners can expect in the coming year.

In this episode, we discuss:

The Housing Shortage: Mayor Roger Reinert addresses Duluth’s "severe" housing crisis and the city's plan to build at scale for the first time in decades.

Mining & Economic Diversification: IRRR Commissioner Ida Rukavina and Ryan Malich discuss the impact of idled mines (Minorca and HIPTAC) and the push to attract new manufacturing to the region.

Economic Analysis: Monica Haynes (UMD Bureau of Business and Economic Research) shares data on population growth in Duluth vs. statewide declines and the slow recovery of the tourism sector.

Regional Cooperation: A conversation on why the success of the Iron Range and the Port of Duluth is fundamentally linked.

Orange Cone Construction Zones: On-site updates on the $200 million Sofidel paper plant conversion in Duluth, the Fox Ridge assisted living complex in Hermantown, and Virginia’s new $32 million public safety facility.

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