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State Representative Gene Pelowski Jr.
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-8637
For more information contact: Michael Howard 651-296-8873
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LAWMAKERS PASS BONDING BILL WITH INVESTMENT IN WINONA STATE
Root River Trail, flood resources included as well
ST. PAUL –Rep. Gene Pelowski (DFL-Winona) applauded passage of the Capital Investment Conference Committee report by both the House and the Senate this week. The final package includes funding for Winona State University, Root River Trail, and SE Minnesota flood restoration. Pelowski said the bill balances both short and long-term economic investment.
"In the short term, this bonding bill creates good paying jobs right away to complete critical state infrastructure projects," said Pelowski. "But where we get the most bang for our buck is our long-term investment in higher education that promotes job growth both now and in the future."
The final bonding bill includes $8.4 million to renovate Memorial Hall at Winona State University. The project will expand Memorial Hall to include a Health and Wellness Center. The bill also includes $55 million in Higher Education Asset Preservation and Restoration, (HEAPR) providing system-wide resources to all MNSCU schools. Pelowski said about $2 million will go toward repairs and renovations at Winona State.
"For many years Minnesota has enjoyed an economic competitive edge because of our highly skilled workforce," said Pelowski. "This bonding bill is a commitment to a continued investment in our top-notch colleges and universities, Winona State in particular."
The bonding bill includes $350 thousand for the extension of the Root River Trail from the Houston Nature Center to the village of Mound Prairie. In addition, critical water quality and safety funding was included. $5 million from the Water and Soil Resources Board will go towards flood area restoration in southeast Minnesota. Pelowski said these resources are part of the continued effort to recover from the significant flooding last year.
"We need to continue our efforts to recover from the devastating floods," said Pelowski. "These resources are an important part of the recovery process."
In total, the job-centered bonding bill invests $925 million in funding for critical state infrastructure projects throughout the state and will create an estimated 10,000 good paying jobs. Pelowski said that projects that were ready-to-go were emphasized in order to stimulate job growth more quickly.
"Right now we have a serious jobs problem in Minnesota," said Pelowski. "We have lost over 25,000 jobs since last summer and this bonding bill will put people to work right away."
Now approved by both the House and Senate, the bill will be sent to the Governor for final approval before becoming law.
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