Boards and Commissions

Downtown Ironwood Development Authority

The Downtown Ironwood Development Authority (DIDA) is charged with creating an environment in Downtown Ironwood that is inviting and welcoming to residents, visitors, and the business community. Utilizing placemaking concepts; the Authority is working to implement its Downtown Blueprint Plan as part of the city-wide Comprehensive Plan. The DIDA is a City authority whose membership includes business representatives, city officials, and city residents. Together they meet monthly to develop strategies and event plans to improve the downtown environment.
Downtown Ironwood is the location for The Historic Ironwood Theatre, the Ironwood Depot, the Memorial Building, Carnegie Library, and a diverse number of stores and restaurants.

Downtown Development Plan & TIF Plan

The purpose of this Development Plan and Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Plan is to provide for the acquisition, construction, and financing of the necessary street, sidewalk, lighting, streetscaping, parking, leisure, recreational and other facilities in Ironwood’s Downtown District. The 2023 Development Plan and TIF Plan are anticipated to carry out the objectives of the Downtown Ironwood Development Authority (DIDA) so as to prevent any deterioration of the Downtown District while promoting economic growth, which is to the benefit of all taxing jurisdictions located within and benefitted by the Downtown District.

Download the Plan

CURRENT BOARD - 4 year term

Lynne Wiercinski - June 30, 2027
Kim Corcoran - Ex-officio - Voting Member
Bruce Greenhill - June 30, 2024
Robert Alexander - Vice Chair - June 30, 2027
Eric Moran - June 30, 2025
Nancy Korpela - June 30, 2027
Ben Thompson - June 30, 2026
Robbie Sardinha - June 30, 2027
Cathy Flory - Chair - June 30, 2025

Staff Contact

Tom Bergman
Community
Development
Director
906-932-5050 x 126
Fax: 906-932-5745

Items of Interest

Agendas
Minutes
Blueprint
Comprehensive Plan
Bylaws
Business Assistance/Programs
Memorial Building Self Guided Tour
Downtown Development Plan and TIF Plan

Ironwood Economic Development Corporation

The Economic Development Corporation is charged with alleviating and preventing conditions of unemployment, assisting and retaining local industries and commercial enterprises, strengthening and revitalizing the economy of the City of Ironwood, providing means and methods for the encouragement and assistance of industrial and commercial enterprises, including small business concerns, in locating, purchasing, constructing, reconstructing, modernizing, improving, maintaining, repairing, furnishing, equipping, and expanding in the City of Ironwood, encouraging the location and expansion of commercial enterprises in the City of Ironwood, and to more conveniently provide needed services and facilities of the commercial enterprises in the City of Ironwood and its residents. It accomplishes this by implementing the Award Winning Comprehensive Plan.

Current Board - 6 year term
Bob Schonberg – October 31, 2027
Kim Corcoran – October 31, 2027
Carolyn Libby – October 31, 2027
Gina Thorsen – October 31, 2027
Steve Lehto, Jr. – October 31, 2028
Glen Ackerman-Behr - Vice Chair – October 31, 2027
Kenneth Raush – October 31, 2029
Nancy Korpela – October 31, 2026
Michael Meyer - Chair – October 31, 2026

Staff Contact

Tom Bergman
Community
Development
Director
906-932-5050 x 126
Fax: 906-932-5745

Items of Interest

Agendas
Minutes
Business Assistance/Programs
Bylaws
Comprehensive Plan
Economic Development: What Is It?

Ironwood Housing Commission

The Ironwood Housing Commission owns, operates and maintains 147 units of public housing in the City of Ironwood. We provide

• Safe, decent and affordable housing opportunities in the City of Ironwood, Michigan.
• Affordable housing to persons with very low, low and moderate incomes.

The Ironwood Housing Commission is committed to operating in an efficient, ethical and professional manner. The Ironwood Housing Commission creates and maintains ongoing partnerships with its residents and appropriate community agencies in order to accomplish this mission.

Visit the Ironwood Housing Commission.

Human Relations and Equity Committee

Mission/Vision/Values and Full Ordinance

Human Relations and Equity Committee Ordinance

The Human Relations and Equity Committee (HREC) serves as advisees to the City Commissions and City Staff on human relations, equity, and diversity-related issues and recommend policies, programs, services, and events which enhance human relations, equity and diversity throughout the community. The committee strives to support the following visions, missions, and values.

Vision: To inspire a community that will embrace and celebrate the goodness of everyone.

Mission: Identify and create resources and support for the valuable community conversations regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Gogebic Range.

Values: Honor, transparency, community-building, inclusion, understanding, awareness, kindness, action, positivity, accountability

Member Names and Expiration Dates of Terms – 2 or 3 year terms

Annette Burchell            July 31, 2025

Carol Erickson                 July 31, 2025

Gerald Gripper                July 31, 2026

Tarun Patel                      July 31, 2025

Jesse Carroll                    July 31, 2026

HREC Projects

Ordinance Review – Recodification

HREC has spent time since 2022 going through all the city ordinances looking for places where language does not reflect diversity, equity, and inclusion values.  A final review took place in July, and the City sent the ordinances out for recodification.  That process will take approximately 2 years.

Hiawatha Project

The Tri-Panel signage was approved by City Commission and has been printed.  A site has been located.  Hopefully they will be erected before snow flies in 2024.

Annual Pride Event

HREC participates in Ironwood’s annual Pride event. This includes offering a Proclamation made by the City of Ironwood that entails the declaration that the month of June is Pride month, in which Ironwood celebrates diversity and inclusivity.

First weekend of June

Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE)

The HREC of Ironwood has joined GARE to become part of a support network in efforts to approach the work towards racial equity through local government. The target of GARE is to drive communities in a way that focuses on promoting healthy and joyful lifestyles, that see beyond race, class, ability, sexuality, and gender.

Member since 2024

HREC Survey

HREC Survey

Efforts to dive into our communities view on how to improve diversity and inclusion, this survey aims to receive feedback from members of our community in order to work towards an environment where all feel welcome.

HREC Application

Board Application

Ironwood Parks and Recreation Committee

The Parks and Recreation Committee is charged with analyzing, planning, and recommending procedures affecting the recreational, cultural, and life-enrichment aspects of community life, maintaining the City’s Park and Recreation Plan; help coordinate activities of the various groups working in this area so as to encourage initiative, but also to make the best use of the limited resources available, bearing in mind the needs of the residents and the appeal of the activities to tourists and other visitors to the area.

Current Board - 3 year term
Jake Ring – July 1, 2026
Randy Kirchhoff – July 1, 2025
Jerry Nezworski – July 1, 2025
Richard Jenkins – July 1, 2025
Paul Kostelnik – July 1, 2024
Sam Davey III - Chair – July 1, 2025
Kim Corcoran - Ex-Officio
Tom Kangas - Vice Chair – July 1, 2026

Staff Contact

Tom Bergman
Community
Development
Director
906-932-5050 x 126
Fax: 906-932-5745

Items of Interest

Agendas
Minutes
Parks
Park and Recreation Plan

Ironwood Planning Commission

The Planning Commission is charged with the following responsibilities:

1. Preparing and implementing the City’s Comprehensive Plan and additional plans/planning documents.

2. Processing Zoning Requests including: Zoning Amendments (Text and Property), Site Plan Review, Special/Conditional Uses, Development Review.

3. Sale of City owned Surplus Property.

4. Other planning and zoning related matters that may come before it.

If you have a development need that requires Planning Commission review and approval please contact Tom Bergman, Community Development Director, for assistance in the process.

Current Board - 3 year Term
John Spence – December 31, 2024
Scott Bissell - December 31, 2025
Stephanie Holloway - December 31, 2023
Mark Silver – December 31, 2025
Vacant - December 31, 2025
David Andresen – Ex-officio
Sam Davey III - Chair – December 31, 2023
Richard Jenkins - Vice Chair - December 31, 2023

Staff Contact

Tom Bergman
Community
Development
Director
906-932-5050 x 126
Fax: 906-932-5745

Items of Interest

Agendas
Minutes
Bylaws
Comprehensive Plan
Maps
Plans
Zoning Ordinance
Zoning Application

Ironwood Zoning Board of Appeals

The Zoning Board of Appeals is charged with the following responsibilities:

1. Hearing cases for Variance requests and appeals.

Current Board - 3 year Term
Rick Semo - November 3, 2025
Kim Corcoran - November 3, 2025
Steve Lehto - March 31, 2027
Rich Jenkins - March 31, 2026
Nancy Korpela - March 31, 2025

Staff Contact

Tom Bergman
Community
Development
Director
906-932-5050 x 126
Fax: 906-932-5745

Items of Interest

Agendas
Minutes
Bylaws
Comprehensive Plan
Maps
Plans
Zoning Ordinance
Zoning Application

Join a Board

Ironwood is looking for citizens willing to help their community by joining the various committees that keep our town functioning and moving forward. Please fill out the application and turn it into the City Clerk’s office.

Current Board/Commission in need of members are:

Board Application

Appointment Process

1. City of Ironwood advertises for expiring or vacant term.
2. Applications are to be submitted to the City Clerk clerk@ironwoodmi.gov.
3. Mayor to appoint applicants to various boards with Commission approval  (Housing Commission is appointed by the City Manager).
4. Clerk will contact applicants with the outcome of the appointments.