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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Clark Johnson (DFL)

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Governor Announces 2016 Jobs Bill with Investments in North Mankato and Nicollet County

Friday, January 15, 2016
SAINT PAUL, MN – Today, Governor Dayton released his 2016 Jobs Bill. The $1.4 billion measure would use general obligation bonds for statewide infrastructure improvements. Those improvements would be targeted toward higher education, roads and bridges, housing, economic development, veterans’ homes, clean water and wastewater systems. If enacted, these investments would lead to the creation of 39,000 good paying jobs across Minnesota.
 
Governor Dayton proposed several projects in Nicollet County and North Mankato, including $70 million for the second phase of the Minnesota Security Hospital’s upgrades, $14.5 million for the second phase of the Minnesota Sex offender Program upgrades, and $7.9 million in improvements at the South Central College in North Mankato, including expanding their STEM and healthcare facilities.
 
“I want to thank the Governor for making education and safety a priority in his jobs bill,” said Rep. Clark Johnson (DFL-North Mankato). “Ensuring the safety of employees and providing better treatment for patients at the Security Hospital must be a top priority for Minnesota.”
 
“I am also pleased that the Governor continues to make education a priority. Year after year we hear talk about how important it is to support STEM training and Governor Dayton has constantly been a strong advocate for STEM. Securing these projects in the final 2016 Jobs Bill is going to be my top priority this session.”
 
The Governor’s Jobs Bill would not only make much needed investments in infrastructure, it would create 39,000 good paying jobs all across Minnesota. The geographically balanced bill has 35% of the projects in Greater Minnesota, 35% in the Twin Cities area and the remaining 30% are of statewide impact. Governor Dayton’s job bill is designed to make state resources go further, by leveraging more than $600 million in private, local, and federal dollars.