The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Tuesday announced $5.21 million in grants to help drive economic development and community sustainability in six eligible Minnesota communities with power plants that are scheduled to close or have recently closed.
Administered by DEED’s Energy Transition Office, the Community Energy Transition grant program provides the state’s affected communities with funds for research, planning and implementation activities to support their local economies through energy transitions.
Community Energy Transition grant awards are as follows:
City of Becker: $770,000
The grant award will cover planning costs -- including environmental review and right-of-way acquisitions assessment -- to develop a grade separated interchange at U.S. Hwy. 10 and Trunk Hwy. 25. A redesigned interchange, located at the Becker business park’s west entrance, will significantly improve vehicle and rail safety, and increase regional mobility and accessibility to help to attract new business to the area and address housing challenges.
“The grant funds will be used along with Becker’s previously received, congressionally-directed funding to complete the planning and design for the intersection’s improvements,” said Becker Mayor Tracy Bertram. “The work at this intersection will not only enhance safety and mobility, but also improve access to the city’s business park as Becker move forward on the Sherco power plant’s planned retirement,”
Cook County: $1,000,000
Funds will be used for two key projects: development of a strategic plan for the transition of the former Taconite Harbor Energy Center located in Schroeder Township; and land acquisition, infrastructure development, building and construction of a country waste transfer station.
The Taconite Harbor strategic plan is a key step for the county toward applying for federal funding for site redevelopment. It will also help promote more public engagement for the transition and support the county’s redevelopment vision. The waste transfer station will facilitate a reliable, efficient waste management system that is fundamental to economic development infrastructure. Currently, the county’s waste is hauled to Duluth. Cook County faces competing needs for its available tax funds to develop a transfer station due to its relatively small population and large percentage of public land.
City of Monticello: $1,000,000
The grant funding will help the city plan and begin construction of a utilities extension needed to increase developable land for an industrial park that will help replace jobs and the city’s tax base.
“This funding will further our efforts to achieve our energy transition goals and help us move from planning to action,” said Monticello Community Development Director Angela Schumann. “The funding will be used to construct critical infrastructure to support job creation and tax base expansion.”
City of Oak Park Heights $440,000
Grant funds will be used for a feasibility study and pre-design work to construct a new water treatment facility to remove PFAS contaminants.
“The funding will enable us to conduct a thorough PFAS treatment feasibility study and pre-design as we continue to proactively ensure the safety and sustainability of our water resources,” said Oak Park Heights Mayor Mary McComber. “We are grateful for DEED’s partnership and continued support.”
City of Red Wing: $1,000,000
Grant funds will support multi-year planning to create numerous transition planning documents, including an economic impact assessment, community engagement and support strategy, revenue diversification strategy, infrastructure enhancements, workforce development and retraining, and more.
“The award is a huge win for the community and region,” said Red Wing City Council President Kim Beise. “We are excited for this opportunity to accelerate ideas and develop a comprehensive Economic Resiliency Transition Plan that ensures the City of Red Wing remains a great place to live, work and play.”
Sherburne County: $1,000,000
The grant will fund initial planning for transportation corridor improvements on a span of Hwy. 25 between I-94 in Monticello to Hwy. 10 in Big Lake. The connection improvements, which include a new river crossing, will help to create more jobs in the region and promote business growth. The grant funds will be used for an environmental assessment and alternatives analysis, as well as outreach to local officials and public engagement meetings.
“This is great news,” said Sherburne County Board of Commissioners Chair Gregg Felber. “It’s terrific to have the State of Minnesota invest with us in this important planning project for the future of Central Minnesota.”
“I would especially like to thank our municipal, township, business and Wright County partners,” said Sherburne County Commissioner Raeanne Danielowski. “The Mississippi River connects us all, but without deliberate planning and intentional development of infrastructure it can also divide us. This grant award helps our partnership advance its collective goals of a healthy, vibrant and connected community.”
