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State Representative John Ward
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4333
For more information contact: Sandy Connolly 651-296-8877
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HOUSE MAKES JOB CREATION TOP PRIORITY
ST. PAUL, MN – The Minnesota House delivered on its commitment to make job creation a top priority by passing its Capital Investment bill with bipartisan support on Monday night. Coming in just over $1 billion, the House bonding bill targets higher education, transportation and transit improvements, and clean water infrastructure.
Several provisions authored by State Rep. John Ward are in the bill, including a share of $3.9 million for classroom initiatives and renovation at Central Lakes College, and a share of $2.1 million for the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area. The Paul Bunyan trail will also receive funding for resurfacing.
Rep. Ward also authored the Greater Minnesota Business Development Infrastructure Grant Program, which appropriates $7.2 million for infrastructure projects across outstate Minnesota, and will create thousands of jobs for Minnesotans. Nearby Camp Ripley will receive $10 million to finish the construction of a public safety training facility.
An amendment offered by Rep. Ward was added to the bill, requiring the state Department of Human Services to consider using vacant or underused facilities for any state programs they administer, instead of building new facilities.
“It would be more cost effective and a better use of state resources to use existing buildings instead of building a new one," said Ward. “We have been looking for a program for the former Regional Treatment Center in Brainerd for quite some time now. This amendment at least increases the possibility it will be considered for a DHS program, now and in the future.
In addition, Brainerd has the highest unemployment rate of any city over 10,000 in the state. I’m going to do whatever I can to bring projects and good jobs to our district.”
Ward said the timing is right for swift passage of a bonding bill because bond rates are competitive, and project estimates are coming in lower than anticipated. The Association of General Contractors estimates an additional $1 billion in nonresidential construction spending would add about $2.4 billion to Minnesota’s Gross Domestic Product, create or sustain about 21,000 jobs – including 7,100 direct construction jobs and 3,400 indirect jobs such as engineers and architects.
“The best path to both short-term and long-term economic recovery is to put people to work,” said Ward. “I remain hopeful we can get the House and Senate bill through Conference Committee quickly and to the Governor for his signature so we can take full advantage of the spring construction season.”
News Items
- 2013 Legislative Session Preview - (Posted: Jan 11 2013 8:39AM)
- Assistant Majority Leader Rep. John Ward Sworn-In as Legislative Session Starts - (Posted: Jan 8 2013 2:39PM)
- Rep. John Ward Elected Assistant Majority Leader and Selected to Serve as Vice Chair of Capital Investment Committee - (Posted: 2012-12-19 00:00:00)
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