BEMIDJI — AirCorps Aviation in Bemidji is one of three businesses receiving expansion grants from Minnesota DEED.
The state’s Department of Employment and Economic Development announced $762,000 in business expansion grants that are expected to create 55 jobs and leverage more than $10 million in private investment.
AirCorps Aviation specializes in restoring, maintaining and rebuilding modern, vintage and legacy aircraft, with a special interest in restoring World War II planes. They also host a large library of aerospace schematics and make specialty parts.
The company will invest nearly $1 million to expand and improve its current Bemidji site, as well as receive $175,000 from DEED’s Job Creation Fund. The expansion is expected to create 14 jobs in the first three years.
Other grantees in this round include Broekema Beltway USA in Pine City, which manufactures conveyor belt systems for agricultural and industrial sectors; and Marotta Controls in Chaska, which designs, develops and manufactures systems for aerospace, space and defense sectors.
-
Lorie Shaull/KAXEIn their final hours before the session ended, lawmakers passed a county hospital bailout, an infrastructure bill and small cuts to car tab fees and property taxes. -
Contributed/Ellen Schmidt / MinnPost / CatchLight Local / Report for AmericaHere’s what made it into the Legislature's infrastructure package and what lawmakers and others had to say about it May 17, 2026. -
Contributed/St. Louis County Sheriff's OfficeFirefighters responded to a wildland fire between Orr and Crane Lake on Friday, May 15, 2026. After returning to the airport, it was learned a bullet appeared to have struck one of the planes. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEEvacuated homeowners will be able to return to their properties for the day, Monday, May 18, 2026. Crow Wing County declared a local emergency, the first step toward state disaster aid. -
This is the Up North Lookback, where we’re digging into the local news archives from 50 years ago — the year KAXE was born. It’s the week of May 18. -
As next steps for a proposed data center are considered, Liz Schwab from Google addresses some of the concerns raised at a recent Hermantown City Council meeting.
-
Contributed/Doug MitchellWildland firefighters are working on containment and mopping up hot spots for a wildfire that began Saturday afternoon, May 16, 2026, southeast of Crosslake. -
Plus: Minnesota partners want you to help track wildlife collisions; and DNR upgrades four fishing piers in Northern Minnesota.
-
Contributed/Screenshot of St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay Facebook pageSt. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay said the fire was one of at least a half-dozen blazes in the county as high winds, low humidity and drought conditions persisted. -
Contributed/Minnesota Department of Natural ResourcesThe agency said it is also close to finishing upgrades on the pier on Sand Lake near Warba.
