ST. PAUL, MN – Early Friday morning, state lawmakers in both the House and Senate approved a capital investment package designed to create good jobs and grow Minnesota’s economy right now and into the future. It now goes to Governor Dayton to be signed into law.
The package, which passed with strong bipartisan support, includes $846 in general obligation bonds and $200 million in one-time expenditures to finance projects with statewide significance, with a focus on higher education, transportation, housing, and basic infrastructure.
State Representative Raymond Dehn (DFL – Minneapolis), a member House Capital Investment Committee, authored a provision in the bonding bill that provides $21.5 million to redesign Nicollet Mall.
“Thanks to state funding, the redesign of Nicollet Mall is going to become a reality,” said Dehn. “I’m thrilled the Legislature got this done. It’s a major step toward growing our city and our state’s economy overall.”
Dehn said teamwork and collaboration between state government, local government and the private sector played a major role in securing state bonds needed to finance the project.
“This was a team effort. I’m incredibly grateful for our partners at the local level and in the private sector. Their hard work pushed this project across the finish line. I cannot thank them enough, especially our great former Mayor RT Rybak and Councilmember Lisa Goodman, who really got the ball rolling on this initiative.”
Dehn thanked his fellow state lawmakers from the Minneapolis delegation, House Capital Investment Committee Chair Alice Hausman, Mayor Betsy Hodges, City Council President Barb Johnson, Vice President Elizabeth Glidden, the Downtown Council, private businesses and staff from Minneapolis’ Intergovernmental Relations Department.
Other major highlights of the capital investment package include:
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$126 million for completion of the State Capitol renovation.
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$279 million in total funding for higher education projects for the University of Minnesota and MnSCU.
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Over $113 million for roads, bridges and vital transportation infrastructure.
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$100 million for housing, the largest investment in state history.
Rep. Dehn encourages his constituents to contact him with any questions or comments about the capital investment package. He can be reached by phone at (651) 296-8659, by email at rep.raymond.dehn@house.mn or by postal mail at 423 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, Minnesota 55155.
For updates about the Minnesota Legislature, follow Rep. Dehn on Twitter at @RaymondDehn, ‘like’ his Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RepRaymondDehn, or join his email list at www.house.mn/59B.