The Minnesota Lottery isn’t just about creating winners, it’s about creating a better Minnesota. Since 1991, lottery proceeds have fueled the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, helping invest more than $1.1 billion into 1,700+ projects in all 87 counties.
From restoring prairies to protecting clean water, these dollars are working every day to keep Minnesota beautiful, for us and for generations to come.
Here’s a look at just a few of the incredible projects that lottery dollars support in this region:
- 🌲 Wilderness education with Friends of the Boundary Waters—helping Minnesotans connect with and care for our wild spaces.
- 🐺 Voyageurs Wolf Project research—deepening our understanding of wolves and their vital role in the ecosystem.
- 🫎 Protecting Minnesota’s moose populations—working to ensure these iconic giants continue to roam the North.
- 🚴 Expanding the Mesabi Trail—offering even more miles of world-class biking and outdoor adventure.
- 🌊 Protecting and studying Lake Superior—safeguarding the largest freshwater lake on Earth.
- ♿ Improving access at Veterans on the Lake in Ely—making outdoor recreation more inclusive for all.
- 👀 Restoring access to an iconic North Shore vista—keeping one of Minnesota’s most breathtaking views open to everyone.
- ⛏️ Preserving the Historic Bruce Mine Headframe in Chisholm—honoring the state’s rich mining heritage.
From wolves to wilderness trails, moose to mining history, lottery dollars are making a real difference. Every time you play, lottery dollars go to help preserve the places and experiences that make Northeastern Minnesota unforgettable.
