Babbitt Mayor Reacts to Northshore Mining Going Idle

BABBITT, Minn. – Cleveland-Cliffs has announced Northshore Mining will shut down by the end of the month, leaving 470 workers without a job.

Idiling the facility will have a big economic impact on the city of Babbitt, where the mine is located.

The mayor of the small city of around 1,500 people says the mine shutting down will impact all business in town.

She tells us with mine employees losing their well-paying jobs, people will have less money to spend at places like gas stations, day care centers, and restaurants.

“The larger cities, they’ll eventually get back up and running. It’s going to be harder for us because these smaller bars and restaurants, this could be the end of them,” said Babbitt Mayor Andrea Zupancich.

Northshore Mining could be idle until August, according to Cleveland-Cliffs.

Mayor Zupancich says it’s important for everybody to stay positive and remember that the mine will eventually reopen.