This page covers what is specific to Ely: local employers, seasonal hiring, and where to get help. For the statewide rules, see the Minnesota Secure Choice requirements and deadlines.
ZIP codes with an Ely mailing address had 252 business locations in 2023, with about 1,449 people on payroll in the March pay period.
At least 76 of the 252 locations had 5 or more employees on site, the headcount at which Minnesota Secure Choice starts to apply. The law counts all of an employer's Minnesota employees, not one location, so treat this as a local indicator.
The most common types of business in these ZIP codes are accommodation and food services (45 locations), construction (37 locations) and retail trade (36 locations). Across St. Louis County, the largest industry by employment is health care and social assistance (22,522 jobs), and private leisure and hospitality employment ran from 10,392 in January 2024 to 12,248 in July 2024.
61 of the 252 business locations in Ely's ZIP codes are in accommodation and food services or arts, entertainment and recreation, the leisure and hospitality industries where staffing levels tend to change with the season. Minnesota counts employees under Minn. Stat. §187.03, subd. 6. The rule reads: “employs five or more covered employees”. If your Ely business's headcount rises and falls during the year, that wording decides whether you meet the threshold, so confirm your status with Minnesota Secure Choice.
Free one-on-one advising for Ely businesses is available from the Northland Small Business Development Center, the Minnesota SBDC Northeast Region center in Duluth, which lists St. Louis County among the counties served.
Local business network for Ely: Ely Chamber of Commerce.
Minnesota Secure Choice employer assistance: 1-855-938-1474.
If your business has 5 or more employees in Minnesota and offers no qualified retirement plan, Minnesota Secure Choice requires you to register or certify an exemption. Upcoming deadlines: 50–99 employees by December 31, 2026; 25–49 employees by June 30, 2027; 10–24 employees by December 31, 2027; 5–9 employees by June 30, 2028.
Full Minnesota Secure Choice requirements, deadlines and penalties
Book a free 15-minute compliance audit. We'll show your exact requirement, your real exposure, and whether your own plan saves you money.