SAINT PAUL – Today, the House Ways and Means Committee approved the Local Jobs and Projects Bill which invests in important infrastructure improvements and job-creating local projects across the state. The bill contains $2.524 billion in renovations, repairs, and replacement of public assets like higher education institutions, clean water infrastructure, correctional facilities, roads and bridges, parks and trails, municipal buildings and more.
“A strong, robust bonding bill is one of the smartest steps we can take to help get Minnesotans back to work and accelerate our economic recovery,” said Rep. Jack Considine (DFL – Mankato), a member of the House Capital Investment Division. “There are demonstrated public infrastructure needs in our community and throughout Minnesota. Time in the legislative session is running out, and I hope we can reach bipartisan agreement quickly so construction of these vital projects can get underway.”
The legislation contains several projects at Minnesota State University – Mankato including renovation of the Clinical Sciences Building, demolition of Armstrong Hall, and the partial renovation of the Wiecking Center, Performing Arts Center, library, and Morris Hall. Other regional priorities include Minnesota River riverbank restoration, phase two of the St. Peter Regional Treatment Center renovation, water quality mitigation for the city of Mankato, and predesign of a new Southern Minnesota Regional Office and Laboratory for the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. North Mankato’s Caswell Park proposal isn’t included in this version of the bill, but Rep. Considine pledges to keep working to find a way to fund the project.
Language of the proposal is available here, and a spreadsheet of included projects can be accessed here.