St. Louis County approves 2025 allocation for Tom McRavena mineral royalty scholarship; board to coordinate with building trades and colleges

The St. Louis County Board voted to approve distribution of funds for 2025 for the Tom McRavena Mineral Royalty Scholarship (board letter 25-19), moving the county’s scholarship program toward expanded partnerships with regional colleges and building-and-construction trades councils.

Administrator Greg told the board “So the amount is $187,500 we'll be working with the trades councils and the schools, to determine as we do each year through the scholarship committee that's been established, that, to ensure how this is distributed.” Deputy Administrator Baccio later said the board would have approved distribution of “just over $1,200,000 in scholarship funding to the colleges that participate in new for 2025” when accounting for participating programs and partners.

The move matters because county officials described the scholarship as a way to support workforce development in trades and to coordinate county-funded mineral-royalty dollars with existing state and local programs. Administrator Greg said the county will work with Minnesota North College (including Hibbing and Vermilion campuses), Lake Superior College and the Duluth and Iron Range Building and Construction Trades Council to shape scholarships and apprenticeship supports.

Discussion at the meeting focused on using the scholarship to support apprenticeships, internships and recruitment into county-priority fields. Commissioner Graham said she supported the addition and asked for follow-up on whether scholarships could support county recruitment and key priority areas. Commissioner Boyle noted the scholarship endowment has been started with the intent that it someday be supported by interest earnings.

Board members directed staff to convene the mineral royalties scholarship committee and to invite college and trades-council representatives to an upcoming meeting. Deputy Administrator Baccio said staff would work with the colleges and trades councils and aimed to convene the committee before the February board meeting; Chair Nelson committed to bringing a plan on permanent endowment funding to the board before the end of the first quarter.

Outcome: The board approved the recommended distribution for 2025 (board letter 25-19).