Members of the public needed for Taconite Harbor Advisory Committee to help shape future of site

Kalli Hawkins | September 12, 2025

The Cook County/Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA) has launched a community planning effort to shape the future of Taconite Harbor.

The EDA is creating a 12 to 15-member Taconite Harbor Advisory Committee made up of residents from Cook and Lake Counties. The committee members will provide input during the early research and visioning stages, as well as broader community visioning sessions, to ensure that public values and goals are included.

Residents who are interested in shaping the future of Taconite Harbor are encouraged to apply for the Advisory Committee. The EDA is seeking community members who are willing to brainstorm creative and practical possibilities for the site and review and discuss information gathered by the firm the EDA hired to conduct the Taconite Harbor strategic plan.

“We’re looking for people who have the time commitment, because we need them at every meeting,” said Tracy Benson, EDA Commissioner. “But we also need them curious and interested in absorbing new materials.”

Benson said it would also be nice to have people from “different stages of life” and an understanding of the “culture in the community.”

The Advisory Committee has a six-month term starting in October 2025, and committee members will meet twice a month, with both in-person and virtual options available. The application period is open until Sept. 19, 2025. Apply here.

Last fall, in September 2024, the EDA received a $200,000 grant from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) to develop a strategic plan for the transition of the Taconite Harbor Energy Center.

The EDA then hired Stantec Consulting Services, a global engineering and architecture consulting firm, in May 2025 to formulate a strategic plan proposal for Taconite Harbor. Stantec will guide the strategic planning process and work with the EDA, local stakeholders, and the Taconite Harbor Advisory Committee.

A timeline of the next steps in the process is below:

September 2025 – Advisory Committee application opens
October 2025 – Kick-off meeting
October 2025 – March 2026 – Advisory Committee meets twice monthly
April – June 2026 – Public community visioning meetings
Fall 2026 – Final redevelopment framework presented

In 2016, the Taconite Harbor coal-fired power plant in Schroeder closed. More recently, in 2023, the decommissioning process began. The 172-acre property is owned by Minnesota Power and, based on the findings of the strategic plan, has the potential to support the transition from a power plant to other economic activities.

WTIP’s CJ Heithoff spoke with EDA Commissioner Tracy Benson about the Taconite Harbor Advisory Committee. The audio is below.

Listen to an archived WTIP produced Lake Superior Project about the history of Taconite Harbor below.