EDA approves final round of business development grants for 2026

Kalli Hawkins | October 21, 2026

The Grand Marais/Cook County Economic Development Authority Board met Tuesday, Oct. 20, approving five business development grants and the hiring of Redpath and Company to conduct a financial audit, among other agenda items.

The meeting marked the third and final round of the EDA’s 2026 business development grants, which began the year with a $200,000 budget.

The EDA’s business development fund is intended to support projects that promote economic development and job creation in Cook County. The program is funded through the county property tax levy, with annual allocations varying over the years. In recent years, the fund has received $200,000 annually. Applications are accepted year-round and reviewed by the EDA’s grant review committee.

For the final round of the grant cycle, the EDA had $88,917.70 remaining in the budget and received eight grant applications.

After each application moved through the review process, the EDA’s grant review committee recommended five of the eight applications for the board’s consideration at Tuesday’s meeting. The five recommended awards totaled $90,700, exceeding the remaining 2026 grant balance by $1,782.30.

The grant review committee members recommended using uncommitted funds from the 2025 business development grant budget to cover the gap. Uncommitted funding for the 2025 grant cycle totaled $3,904.86, and the committee recommended using $1,782.30 to cover the difference to fund the five recommended awards.

Business Development Grants

The first grant presented and approved by the EDA Board was $25,000 for Java Moose. According to the grant application, the coffee shop plans to expand the existing commercial building by adding more year-round indoor customer seating and storage space. The grant requires a $6,250 match from the business. The entire construction project is estimated at nearly $200,000.

The second grant considered and approved by the EDA Board was $7,850 for The Great Skogby LLC, which is launching a new business called Highway 61 Popcorn in Lutsen. The grant funds will support purchasing commercial kitchen equipment, retail fixtures, furnishings, and food and storage equipment. The new food and retail business plans to offer specialty popcorn products and related retail offerings to residents and visitors along the North Shore. The project is expected to cost more than $40,000.

The EDA’s grant review committee recommended partially funding the initial request, citing the number of competitive applications received during the cycle. The required business match is $570.

The third business grant reviewed and approved during Tuesday’s meeting is for Ski Hill Cabins and Sauna, LLC, totaling $7,850, with a $570 match. The lodging business operates several Scandinavian modern-style cabins in Lutsen, each with a private sauna, for North Shore visitors.

The grant request states the grant funds would be used to purchase and install energy-efficient spray foam insulation for five new Nordic A-frame rental cabins as part of the business’s Phase 2 expansion. The total project cost is estimated at $56,500.

The EDA Board approved a fourth grant for Prom Enterprises d/b/a Voyageur Canoe Outfitters in the amount of $25,000, with a $6,250 match. The grant funds would support Phase 2 of the business’s potable water system improvements, including indoor plumbing, water storage, filtration and treatment equipment, and installation costs, according to the grant application. The overall project cost of Phase Two is estimated at $53,000.

Lastly, the EDA Board approved a fifth grant to BrightBale LLC totaling $25,000, with a $6,250 match. The newly established business is based in Lutsen and will offer prefabricated straw-insulated wall panels for residential construction. According to the grant application, the business aims to manufacture and provide efficient, durable building materials locally to support housing development options. The funds will support the purchase of manufacturing equipment, woodworking tools, and other associated equipment, estimated at nearly $32,000.

The EDA Board unanimously approved all five of the business development grants.

Redpath and Company

During Tuesday’s meeting, the EDA discussed hiring Redpath and Company, an accounting firm, to conduct the EDA’s 2026 financial audit.

The EDA has used Redpath and Company for several years to conduct the organization’s and the Superior National Golf Course’s annual audits. With the recent sale of the golf course, the cost will be reduced due to the reduced scope of work. The EDA Board unanimously approved hiring Redpath and Company totaling $19,100 for the EDA’s 2026 financial audit.

Northland Small Business Development Center

During the meeting, the EDA Board approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Northland Small Business Development Center that formalizes a partnership through Dec. 31, 2027.

Historically, the EDA has worked with the Northland Foundation and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to offer business consulting services to Cook County businesses. Pat Campanaro, and later Pete Mott, previously held the SBDC consultant position in Cook County. More recently, Rachelle Christianson stepped into the role.

Over the past year, the EDA Director Lucas Wakefield and Board Chair Peter Clissold have met with Northland SBDC officials to explore a new service model and better understand the partnership arrangement.

Under the new MOU, Northland SBDC will directly contract with and manage the consultant serving Cook County, while the EDA will continue to serve as a local partner supporting referrals, community connections, outreach, and access to meeting space. The EDA will continue to provide meeting space at no cost for client meetings.

Find the full Oct. 20 EDA agenda and recorded meeting here.