Working in Ely

Entrepreneurship is deeply embedded in Ely’s history and business culture. It started with the immigrants who arrived here around the turn of the century to support the logging and mining boom. They built our downtown and lined main street with grocery markets, banks, barbers, drug stores, pubs and theaters. The same entrepreneurial spirit embedded in our heritage is alive and growing today. In the past two years, over a dozen new businesses have opened in Ely.

Ely is known for its its small-batch high-quality manufacturing businesses. Businesses like Crapola!, Wintergreen Northern Wear, Kondos Outdoors, Lobo Gun Leather, and Steger Mukluks have filled downtown storefronts with one-of-a-kind products. Have you dreamed of making a high-quality product? We’d love to expand our made-in-Ely culture and welcome you to our business community.

If you work remotely, Ely has all the amenities you need to get your work done and enjoy our vast outdoor recreation. Renovated office space is affordable and close to restaurants, shops, schools and lakes. Internet speeds of up to 200mbs are available in town and there is a new initiative to install fiber optic infrastructure in the downtown corridor.

Say goodbye to traffic jams each morning at 7am and hello to exploring one of hundreds of lakes within a 20-minute drive of Ely. Our city’s Economic Development Authority is ready to discuss your needs and what resources and programs we have to offer.

Here in Ely we welcome new businesses who wish to move to our area and entrepreneurs who wish to begin their own adventure. If you are within the city limits we have some great options for you!

If you are interested in taking over a business, Ely is a ripe location for your search. New business opportunities come and go frequently in this little community as the lead generation is looking to pass the torch to willing investors and entrepreneurs. The diverse options that are currently available could be your next dream job. Owning a tavern, radio station, restaurant, auto repair shop, gas station, knick-knack shop, resort, bait shop, hotel, candle company, rental portfolio, or T-shirt printing shop are easily within reach in Ely. Of course, if you can’t find exactly what you are looking there are plenty of prime retail and office locations to begin your own adventure as well.

There is plenty of office space to rent and buildings to buy. However, there are still some areas where the city offers some building incentives. Our planning and zoning department has a handy map on page 20 of their Comprehensive Plan.

Another helpful resource would be our City Clerk’s office and the Ely Economic Development Authority. Call or email to let them know who you are and what you plan to do is a great first step. They will help guide you through the necessary permits and zoning as well as answer some of those more difficult questions.

If you are looking for a low interest loan, the City of Ely site has a couple of options for a small Commercial Loan and a Rehabilitation loan with great low interest rates. There are also energy Retrofit Loans available through the Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency.