ST. PAUL – Grants totaling $17.97 million were awarded to 32 communities in Greater Minnesota to help pay for rehabilitating housing and commercial structures and improving infrastructure. Over $1 million in local projects were included in area communities, including:
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Brainerd – $715,000
Owner-occupied housing and commercial building rehabilitation
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Deerwood – $295,200
Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) awarded the funding under its Small Cities Development Program, a federally-funded initiative that seeks to benefit people of low and moderate incomes.
“These investments are crucial for our communities,” said Rep. John Ward (DFL – Baxter). “We have to do what we can to support our area workers, families and businesses, and these grants are a piece of that.”
“Our communities in Greater Minnesota need just as much support as the metro area and I’m pleased that our area is receiving these grants,” added Rep. Joe Radinovich (DFL – Crosby). “These grants will work to help our families and businesses.”
“These grants make it possible for Minnesota’s smaller communities to provide safe, affordable housing options for their residents,” said DEED Commissioner Katie Clark Sieben. “Not only will the projects generate local jobs and stimulate economic development, they will create suitable living environments for workers – something that is vital to the success of our communities.”
The Small Cities Development Program makes grants available to cities and townships with populations under 50,000 and counties with populations under 200,000.
DEED is the state’s principal economic development agency, promoting business recruitment, expansion and retention, workforce development, international trade and community development. Funding for DEED and job creation was tripled this year in the DFL budget.