Four generations of the Lamppa family have built Lamppa Manufacturing in Tower into what it is today.

It started in the 1930s, with Richard Lamppa making sauna stoves for Finnish settlers.

Then, his son Herbert took over. And then his grandson Daryl. And now, great-grandson Garrett.

They ship all over North America. And pride themselves on offering an extremely environmentally friendly sauna stove, with no smoke pollution.

Garrett spoke during an awards ceremony on Tuesday. They’ve been named the 2024 Minnesota Family-Owned Small Business of the Year from the SBA Minnesota District Office.

“We wouldn’t be here without my dad, designing and developing the product. And the hard working employees. We are grateful for the support of everyone in Tower, as well,” Garrett shared.

Brian McDonald, SBA Minnesota District Director, handed over the crystal award and praised them for their work here. “We’ve talked about jobs, and being part of the economy. And the pride of making an American-made product, with American-made steel.”

Leaders from the Entrepreneur Fund were also on hand.

The Entrepreneur Fund supports 1600 business owners from around the state. And they are getting $1 million dollars from the legislature for more loan capital.

Rep. Roger Skraba, from Ely, attended on Tuesday as well. “You can go anywhere, and if you say you have a Kuuma stove, people go, Ohhhh. They’re like gold.”

In 2019, Lamppa moved from across town to their current location, which is twice the size of the original. Support from Iron Range Resources also helped, and the Tower Economic Development Authority did too.

It is National Small Business Week.