"We're sort of famous for not being very cooperative. I think we all recognize that if we don't work together, we're going to have some problems.''
LORY FEDO, president of the Hibbing Area Chamber of Commerce.
Several Iron Range communities are trying cooperation, instead of competition, to draw businesses to the region.

They have formed the Central Iron Range Initiative for the corridor along U.S. Highway 169 from the Chisholm-Hibbing Airport to Kinney. It's the first time the communities, including Hibbing and Chisholm, have cooperated on a joint economic development plan.

"We're sort of famous for not being very cooperative,'' said Lory Fedo, president of the Hibbing Area Chamber of Commerce. "I think we all recognize that if we don't work together, we're going to have some problems.''

The plan consists of a map of suggested areas for development and projects in various stages of planning for those areas.

The next step for the initiative, announced at the Hibbing Chamber's annual dinner Friday, is to ask for $1.2 million from the state's bonding bill to begin engineering work.

The plan includes a variety of projects, from coal-fired generating plants to residential developments.

Houses and recreational areas could be developed along the shores of abandoned mine pits near Chisholm and Buhl, and near Carey Lake east of Hibbing.

A variety of commercial and industrial sites are slated for the corridor along Highway 169 and at various other locations. All communities along the stretch of highway have pledged to cooperate in recruiting businesses there.

Electrical energy would be developed at an energy park. The park could include a coal-fired generating plant and a hydroelectric generating plant. The hydro plant would pump water out of abandoned mine pits during off-peak hours, when electricity to pump it is cheap, and release it through hydroelectric turbines during peak hours, when the electricity generated could be sold for a higher price.

A motor sports facility, including a 3/8-mile dirt track and a 1.3-mile road course for racing, law enforcement training and driver training.

A central wastewater treatment plant.

Whether the projects succeed or not, Hibbing City Councilor Rick Wolff said the cooperation should help.

"If, for whatever reason, this initiative doesn't pan out long term,'' he said, "I think the cooperation and relationships will serve us well in the long term.''