9 April 2009Iron Range Resources seeks, supports clean & green businesses
Iron Range Resources seeks, supports clean & green businesses
7 April 2009
As part of its effort to attract clean and green businesses to northeastern Minnesota, Iron Range Resources is co-sponsoring a newly-announced division of the Minnesota Cup, a statewide competition that seeks out Minnesota’s newest and most innovative business ideas from entrepreneurs, inventors and creative minds.
Iron Range Resources is a co-sponsor of the Minnesota Cup’s new Clean & Green division, which seeks entries that focus on innovate ideas involving clean and renewable energy initiatives.
With abundant wood, wind and water resources throughout northeastern Minnesota, Iron Range Resources is seeking to emphasize the natural synergies for clean and green businesses to locate within the agency’s service territory. Additionally, Iron Range Resources offers a wide range of financial assistance, employee training and infrastructure development programs.
Most recently, Iron Range Resources has supported renewable energy projects such as the Laurentian Energy Authority’s biomass municipal steam generation facilities in Hibbing and Virginia and Renewafuels, a Cliffs Natural Resources’ proposal to produce wood cubes for fuel at taconite plants.
Five other Minnesota Cup divisions are open to entries: BioSciences, High Tech, Social Entrepreneur, General, and Student.
Five to ten top entrants in each division will participate in a semi-final round of competition which will narrow each field to three finalists.
The winner of each division receives $20,000, except the Student winner who receives $5,000.
Since the contest began in 2005, 2,600 contestants from throughout Minnesota have entered the competition. More than $175,000 in prize money has been awarded. The deadline to submit entries is May 22.
For complete contest rules and to submit your breakthrough business idea, visit www.minnesotacup.org
