Imagine you were standing here in Chester Bowl in 1924 and that cut through the trees.

That was the loose Chester Bull ski jump.

They built a second one in 1969.

We're kind of talking about a leap of faith this week on In Business.

I'm Ken Ber and the leap of faith we're talking about is entrepreneurs.

They take the leap of faith to get into business.

And this week, the entrepreneurial fund is getting ready for next week's celebration where they highlight some of the outstanding entrepreneurs of our region here in northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin.

They're having a special event and we'll preview it.

And while we're out here at Chester Bowl, we're also going to take a look at their brand new ski chalet that's going up.

And we'll also visit with the Duth airport which is trying to build a new tower for the Duth International Airport.

And along the way, we'll have some news headlines.

It's all coming up this week on In Business.

Welcome to In Business.

Tonight, we're taking a broader look at the business community from celebrating excellence to tracking developments shaping our region.

We begin with the distinction awards honoring the businesses and organizations that are making an impact across the Northland.

This is in business and we're talking about people that are taking a leap of faith and entrepreneurialship.

And to celebrate those wonderful people, the entrepreneurial fund is having an event next week that highlights entrepreneurs from across the region.

to talk about that is their content manager for the entrepreneurial fund and our guest Sam Urka.

Sam, thank you for being on In Business.

Hi, thank you for having me.

Let's start with the entrepreneurial fund itself.

Um, how did it get started and how long has it been around?

Yeah, so the entrepreneur fund has been around since 1989.

We started on the iron range.

Um, Bernie to diversify the industry, the mining, there were some layoffs.

Um so really to bring that entrepreneurial spark back to the area and yeah reignite that um the small businesses in that area.

From your beginnings on the Iron Range, you have expanded greatly.

What areas does the entrepreneurial fund now serve?

Yeah, we serve northeast Minnesota still like on the Iron Range um all the way up to I falls and we serve central Minnesota down to like Little Falls uh Duth Minnesota where we are right now and then in the last 3 years we've expanded into northern Wisconsin from Superior where we've been for a while all the way over to Marionette or Rhinelander Wisconsin Temple area and the companies that you serve the entrepreneurials that you interact with what exactly do you provide to them.

Yeah.

So, we provide lending and advising um disciplined capital and trusted guidance really to bring the entrepreneur along um to strengthen their business and also when growth opportunities arise to help them capitalize on those growth opportunities.

And how many do you serve in a given year?

We serve around 1,800 to 2,000 entrepreneurs a year.

Sam Urkla is our guest.

She is the content manager for the entrepreneurial fund which as you just heard serves a wide range of not only area but also a wide range of businesses.

Do you specialize in any one kind of business or is it just people with an idea?

Um we don't specialize in any type of business.

Um we work with startups, we work with established businesses, business who businesses that are looking to expand uh and then also businesses that are looking to transition.

You have a loan program as well, correct?

Yes, we offer many different types of loans.

We have um SBA microloan program.

So for those smaller loans under $50,000, um we can do those.

We can do lending from $1,000 to $750,000 with a variety of different packages.

Yeah.

As uh somebody a business, say I'm coming to the entrepreneurial fund and I'm looking for some direction.

I'm thinking about expanding.

Uh I can maybe get a loan, but I can get other services too, right?

Yeah.

Um we do advising.

So we're very connected with other lenders in the area, with bankers in the area.

So we often work together with them for a capital stack on your business um on the financing part, but then we're also very connected to different marketing agencies in the area, um human resources professionals.

Um, so if we don't have that specialty in house, we know the people that we can connect you to.

Now, we've singled out, you have anyway, some very special entrepreneurs across our region that are going to be honored at a special program next week.

How do you select those honores?

We have an internal selection committee that looks at um a number of things.

Uh, are they bringing new ideas to the region?

Are they innovative?

Are they um excelling in their industry?

These business owners that we're honoring this year span a variety of industries from technology to hospitality to fabrication, manufacturing.

So, um there's not one industry specific.

Uh we also look at if they are bringing jobs into the area like good family sustaining jobs um and just their overall economic contribution to our region.

In the past, obviously this is the third year of this award program.

uh is there a success story from the first two years of somebody that got an honor and has just excelled?

Yeah, so we really when we're selecting these businesses, we really do look at like are they on the path to excelling.

So we have seen a lot of success stories um from the honores in the past and we always invite them back year after year.

We have um our night market portion of the evening.

So um people might be familiar with Duth Grill here in town.

Um Tom Hansen and his family has won in the past.

They're going to be part of the event this year as our night market.

So, we get to taste, you know, our guests and our attendees get to taste the regional food.

Um and we're honored to show him in that way.

Uh another thing that we really pride ourselves on with this event is that it's making those connections.

It's a genuine authentic space where we can bring these entrepreneurs together um and network.

they don't really get that um that chance very often.

So if we can provide that and we have seen success stories come out of that um where collaborations have happened a manufacturer saying like I don't you know I need something that will like keep my employees safe from this one certain piece of equipment that we make.

Then they meet the person right next to them and they've sparked a collaboration.

So we have seen a lot of those collaborations happen and that's a big goal of this event.

That's got to make you feel pretty good.

Mhm.

Yeah, definitely.

So if people want to come to the entrepreneurial awards, how do they get in touch and how do they get tickets and what do they do?

Yeah.

So the entrepreneur fund distinction awards this year is presented by our partner Wells Fargo and it is on May 7th at the deck at the Lake Superior Ballroom from 4 to 8 and you can get tickets at ephund.org/awwards.

Obviously, this is a fun evening.

It's an exciting evening, especially uh for the awardees.

Uh but uh what's your favorite part of it?

My favorite part is being able to celebrate these entrepreneurs.

They don't get a chance very often to be celebrated and to be recognized for all the good that they do for their communities.

So, if we can provide that, give them the pat on the back, show others uh in the area, the great job that they're doing, the people that they're employing, that their business in our area really makes an impact.

Like, that's my favorite part.

Sam Urgla has been our guest on in business.

She is the content manager for the entrepreneurial fund here in Duth.

We're talking about entrepreneurs and a special award ceremony coming up next week.

Sam, thanks for being with us.

Yeah, thank you for having me.

Before our final segment, here's a quick look at some business news from across the region.

St.

Louis County has received federal approval to use project labor agreements on several road and bridge projects this construction season.

The decision comes after months of delays and uncertainty.

With nearly $7 million in federal funding hanging in the balance, county officials say that the approval will allow projects to move forward as planned after concerns that restrictions on labor agreements could enforce changes to local hiring practices.

In Washington DC, President Donald Trump has signed a resolution ending a mining ban near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

The move overturns a previous moratorum on mining in parts of the Superior National Forest.

In Duth, city councilors have approved additional funding for the demolition of a downtown parking ramp.

The total cost of this demolition project has now grown to more than $3 million.

That's more than triple the original estimate.

Officials say that the increase though is due to unexpected conditions found during the demolition, including old building materials and contaminations that require special handling.

Meanwhile, drivers in Duth, you should expect traffic delays along London Road as a major construction project is now underway.

The project includes road resurfacing and the addition of two new roundabouts with work expected to continue through the end of 2026 and then resume again in the spring of 2027.

Transportation officials say that they will also host weekly virtual meetings to provide updates and answer questions from the public.

A new report shows that in Minnesota, hospitals provide more than $6 and a half billion dollars in community benefits.

And that was just last year.

That includes uncompensated care, charity programs, and other services, often absorbing those costs not covered by insurance or by government programs.

Next, we return to a story that we first brought you last week.

It's an update on a plan for a new air traffic control tower at Duth International Airport.

My name is Natalie Baker and I'm the director of communications and marketing for the Duth Airport Authority.

So, our tower has been in long need of replacing uh for a number of years.

It was then highlighted when we completed our master plan back in 2021.

Um it's over 70 years old, close to 75 years old, commissioned back in the 1950s or 60s.

Um and a lot of regulations have changed since then.

Um including um operations at the airport have continued to steadily increase year-over-year.

So operations are takeoffs and landings and we have about 87,000 per year uh thanks to the unique traffic mix we have.

Um, so with all of the operators on the airfield, we'll have helicopters or research and development flights, flight training, NGA aircraft, commercial service, uh, military, fastmoving military jets and cargo as well.

So, a very unique traffic mix uh on our airfield for our controllers to safely manage as they come and go from uh numerous airports um and into our into DH and then also as aircraft are passing over our airspace uh to different airports throughout uh northeast Minnesota.

I think the biggest factors for why it would be needed uh comes down from those changing federal regulations.

So, it currently doesn't meet line of sight height or size for towers for airports like ours.

Um, it shouldn't be as close to the airfield as it is.

We'll need to re uh relocate it.

Um, and then there's also issues with water infiltration, communication, power, HVAC, um, just a whole laundry list of continued uh, maintenance problems that we have uh, for the tower.

and we've continued to invest thousands and thousands of dollars into making it so it's a workable space for controllers who do provide such an essential service.

Um, but it's just come time to no longer use have this tower and it's time for a new one.

Right now, the biggest limitation for the current tower would be the line of sight.

So, it's quite short compared to what it will be.

Um, we'll be adding about 90 ft to the new tower.

Uh, so it'll really change the landscape up here, but it'll also change the line of sight for our controllers in the cab.

Currently, they're not able to see all the way at the end of a couple of our runways.

Um, so that just obviously you want to be able to see where you're directing and who you're directing.

So that I would say would be one of the largest challenges.

Previously, there had never been a federal funding source for locally owned towers like ours.

Ours is very unique in that way where it's locally owned and federally staffed.

There's only about 30 towers like that, structured like that throughout the entire country.

And there's over 500, I want to say there's 527 towers throughout the entire country.

So with the federal funding program, the infrastructure investment and jobs act, otherwise known as bipartisan infrastructure law, it made $5 billion available over the course of 5 years with $1 billion per year uh for a like, you know, sending out to to people who request for a number of different projects.

Towers now, like ours being eligible for federal funding.

So, it's a $72 million project, and that is a that's a lot of money, especially if it was all supposed to be local share.

So, now that there was federal funding available, we were really able to start seeking that federal funding and then in turn also seek state funding to help fund those federally ineligible portions of the project.

The the new tower will uh most certainly enhance the safety here.

it is safe operating here, safe flying out of here with a new tower will really just enhance that for for the travelers and for those utilizing the airport.

It'll be about a 20month construction project um where it will be hosting our groundbreaking ceremony on May 20th.

Construction will begin a little bit before that um just with some ground ground work um and you know getting the site prepped and ready um and then it'll be about 20 months from there.

The old tower will need to remain in operation until the new tower is able to be commissioned.

So, we'll have two towers until the new one um is completed and all systems are ready to run and then the old tower uh will be essentially turned off and then we'll need to also demolish it cuz it will cause a line of sight issue for the new one.

Duth International Airport has an economic impact of $1.4 4 billion per year for our region and we support over 4,000 jobs in the region as well.

Um when what's what's shown to be true for um our region is when we have strong infrastructure, it will be utilized.

So being able to make this massive infrastructure improvement for a new tower, um we can foresee that it will then also be utilized and we can hope that it'll continue to be used because of um the systems that we have and the capabilities of this tower.

We're able to help guide commercial aircraft and other aircraft to different areas of our region of northeast Minnesota.

So, it's not only, you know, ground control and and guiding aircraft into DH, but into other airports throughout the state.

Um, I think that is an essent it's essential an essential service cuz the next closest tower that has those capabilities is down in Minneapolis.

So, keeping that um up to the north and, you know, having that direct contact with the pilots is a really great service that we're able to provide.

It does tie into our strategic plan when it comes to expanding um development on the airfield and around the airport property as well for aeronautical development and non-eronautical development.

I think this is an incredible project that our team is able to undertake thanks to our partners at the federal level with the FAA and MINDOT.

Um, and we're also incredibly grateful to our local delegation um, who have been working hard on our behalf down at the capital uh, to secure some additional state funding as well as our federal uh, delegation out in DC working hard um, on our behalf as well to secure federal funding.

For generations, this is where countless young people came to learn to ski here at Chester Bowl.

And for our final segment on in business, we talk about a brand new construction plan for a brand new Chester Bowl Chalet.

I'm Dave Schaefer, the executive director at Chester Bowl.

I've been at Chester Bowl on staff for a dozen years.

And before that, I was the parent of a participant and I've lived on the edge of the park for almost 20 years now.

So really, it's been part of the fabric of my life for two decades.

I think the most special thing about Chester Bowl is the community.

It is a place, but it's also the people.

And really what's special about Chester Bowl is how we interact with each other.

How it's a place where everyone is welcomed and accepted and it's a chance to be who they are outside.

So this Tom Chalet, which is behind me, is actually the fourth chalet that we've had.

Originally, there were two uh chalets that were over closer to the playground, and those were for ski jumping.

So when the ski jumping was active, there was a third building called the Fieldhouse that was just behind the footprint of this current chalet.

Um that was here until the early '7s.

And then the Tom Storm Chalet has been here since 1974.

For the reconstruction project, we're looking at, we think of it as chalet 4 and a half.

We are using the existing foundation, expanding the footprint a little bit in part to add an elevator um and then gaining more space by growing from two floors to three floors.

The Tom Storm Shell was built in 1974, so it's a little bit over 50 years old.

Uh unfortunately, it is um near the end of his lifestyle.

It's not that old of a building, but it just has gotten to a point where it needs to be replaced.

So, as we go through the building, it has been emptied out, so it looks a little bare.

In this office space, there's a mural.

Um, this is half of the mural that was painted in 1981 in honor of all the 1980 Olympians that uh were part of Chester Bowl between ski jumping and even, as you can see, speed skating.

So, there used to be a speed skating oval here in Chester Park.

The ski patrol room has the second half of that mural.

Um, and that was the room was divided sometime a few decades ago.

At one point, this is one larger room and the mural just spanned it, but now we have it divided in half.

This room is an office space that we have used and and used for meetings and other things like that.

Um, you can see that we are reclaiming some of the wood and um, other materials to salvage because we'd like to waste as little as possible.

One of the challenges we have had with this building is these stairs are the only way up to the main space in Chester Bowl.

So, uh we will head up them, but we know that not every user can.

This is the existing main space in the chalet where people gather to drink their hot chocolate um to hang out and warm up or for summer campers to come in during a thunderstorm.

In the new building, this space will be about double this size, letting us serve more people.

This room was our tiny concession stand where volunteers were all clumped together trying to get people their hot chocolate and hot dogs.

Um the new concession stand will get shifted to a different corner um and will be bigger, nicer, and much easier to keep everything clean.

Um interesting thing about this room is it's actually built on top of a stairwell just like the other concrete stairwell.

It was added here at one point in an effort to just get a little more space out of the building.

So, the space behind this door is where the apartment was until about three and a half years ago, and then it has been staff space for us.

We call it the secret layer.

Um, and as you can see, again, we're kind of reclaiming uh carpeting and things that we can, but this space was where the apartment was.

There's a a bathroom, there's a kitchen area, uh two bedrooms that were up here.

So, one of the secrets of the chalet is that there's a loft up here that you access through one of these old pull down ladders.

Uh, and this was built by Tom Storm once he and his wife Cindy started having kids because Elsie is about 6 years older than Eban.

So, for her, this space, which you can see that soft and glorious '7s '8s carpeting, uh, this was a play space that she could get into that Eban was not allowed.

So, the footprint of this space will be mostly expanded room for folks to gather.

We are going to have um a meeting room that'll be foundation does go out this way about the footprint of the existing deck.

So, we'll have a meeting room there.

Um wide open space and then what was then originally was a concession stand then turned into an office will again become a concession stand in this area.

Existing chalet is two levels.

The new chalet will have a third level on the back half of the building.

So, picture where this wall goes up, there being another floor up there for staff offices, a staff break room.

That'll have windows that look down into this space, which will of course have a higher roof, and then out onto the hill as well.

The most important reason we need a new chalet is because it currently can't be a building for everyone.

It is two levels and if you cannot get up concrete stairs, you cannot get to our main spaces.

So, the new building will be completely accessible.

Also, our programs have doubled in the last 12 years.

And so, we need space for more people and to treat our current users better.

So, um expanding the building will give us a lot more space and enable us to serve people uh in the way that they need to and to let our programs keep growing.

Also, it's an extremely environmentally inefficient building.

This building will be built to state of Minnesota B3 standards.

Uh which basically means the the use of energy is decreased, especially by such a good envelope to the building.

Um, and finally, the building its deferred maintenance costs are more than the value of the building.

So, it's time to instead of putting more band-aids on it to replace the building completely.

The foundation of the chalet is in great shape.

So, we will keep using that, the rest of it will be new construction.

When we were exploring options, um, we did look at whether we could build in a different location.

We're in a tight spot with the creek and the road and the hillside.

Um, and since the foundation is in such good shape, that was the best option for us to use that space and build on top of it.

We have so many different types of programs in the different seasons.

Most people have heard about the ski and snowboard program.

We also do run a summer day camp here.

Our promise to parents is to return your kids tired, happy, and dirty.

We're building forts.

We're in the creek.

We're playing in the mud.

Uh a great time for kids to be outdoors.

That summer camp this year cannot be based out of the chalet.

We have two groups.

One is based at Lower Chester Community Center.

The other this year will be at the Lester Amity Chalet.

Chesterville also runs FallFest.

It's a one-day event that can bring 11,000 people here.

Uh we have 130 craft vendors, over a dozen food trucks, live music all day.

It's a great community event.

Um and with all the food trucks, I always say if you go home hungry, you're doing Fall Fest wrong.

Chester Bowl is also a partner with the city of Duth for the music in the park concert series, which hosts five weeks here at Chester Bowl, five weeks at Lincoln Park.

This year with the Chalet project, it will be entirely at Lincoln Park, returning to a split series in 2027.

We had our construction kickoff on April 21st and so that was a ceremonial start to construction.

Uh there's a lot of work for the construction company to do to prep for um the project itself, but by miday there will be noticeable signs of deconstruction as the old building is taken down.

Um and the new building will be up and ready for use by the coming winter season.

It's about a seven-month project.

So the new building will function very similarly.

The um main heart of the chalet will be the the second level and that's where we'll have the big open space be used by winter skiers and snowboarders, by summer campers, um by groups that may want to rent the chalet for parties and other special events.

The lower level will have our ski patrol room, restrooms, some offices and mechanical facilities.

And then the third floor will be primarily for staff.

That's where we'll have staff offices, a break room, and things like that.

all of the pieces of the chalet together just create a community center that we want everyone to feel welcomed and invited to come to Chester Bowl.

The construction contract itself um it was about $3 and a4 million.

Um there are additional costs of course for the architecture fees for some electrical work that needs to be done.

Um so when you add those in um the project will probably come in at just under $4 million.

That was a huge amount to fund raise.

So Chester Bowl as a nonprofit first raised um almost a million dollars that then let us apply for and ultimately receive state of Minnesota funding through the Environmental National Resources Trust Fund.

Um and that fund gave us $2,312,000 for the project.

We've since raised more through Chester Bowl.

So we have about three and a half million raised.

I'm going to have our final $275,000 that we still are looking to raise.

We're having a one-mon fundraising challenge to raise $100,000 by May 21st.

Um, and we're about $25,000 into that amount um, as of the end of April.

I'm Ken.

Thanks for watching In Business.

If you missed any parts of tonight's show, you can always watch it at pbsnorth.org or listen on Mondays at 5:30 on the North 1033.

And if you have an idea for a feature presentation on In Business, we'd love to hear from you.

Email us at askpbsnorth.org.

Thanks again for watching and until next time, let's take care of each other.