FOX 21 News, KQDS-DT

EVELETH - Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board approved a $31.2 million budget for current and future projects on the Range.

IRRRB representatives say their focus for the 2013 fiscal year is economic development for the community, businesses and workforce.

The area of development projects is a major push in the fiscal budget starting July 1st.

"Within this budget there's over a million dollars," IRRRB Commissioner Tony Sertich said.

Two additional projects are being created from this pot of money.

One being a $500,000 Iron Range Neighborhood Revitalization.

It will fix up aging homes in low income and middle class areas.

The project will also create construction jobs and bring in business to the community.

"It's a win for the homeowner, it's a win for our communities to make sure that they are more inviting and have better housing stock," said Sertich.

The second project is a $250,000 Business Energy Retrofitting program located in Hibbing.

The program will help businesses slice costly utility bills on old buildings by installing systems that conserve energy.

"This is gonna help on their bottom line which is gonna help their business be more competitive,” said Sertich. It's also gonna bring lots of construction trades work to that sector as well."

Officials say the Neighborhood Revitalization project and Business Retrofitting program is expected to kick off late summer.