Red Lake Nation News - Babaamaajimowinan (Telling of news in different places)

ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) awarded grants totaling $4.6 million to clean up or investigate contamination at 10 sites in Minnesota.

The funding from the agency’s Contamination Cleanup and Investigation Grants Program will result in redevelopment projects that create or retain 1,323 jobs and increase the local tax base by $8.5 million.

“This latest round of grants will jump-start projects that have attracted more than $353.8 million in private investments,” said DEED Commissioner Shawntera Hardy. “Cleanup grants are a good return on investment, encouraging economic development and job growth on sites that would otherwise remain undeveloped.”

DEED cleanup grants, which are awarded twice a year, account for about 75 percent of funding used for reclaiming polluted sites and brownfields statewide. The remaining 25 percent comes from the Metropolitan Council, cities, counties, other local units of government, private landowners and developers.

DEED’s Contamination Cleanup and Investigation Grant Program has awarded 494 grants worth over $172 million since the program’s inception in 1995. Thanks to the funding, 3,452 acres of contaminated property have been reclaimed for development projects, resulting in 22,262 new jobs and 24,629 retained jobs. The program has attracted $6.6 billion in private investments and generated nearly $114 million in new tax revenue.

The DEED website has more information on the Contamination Cleanup and Investigation Grants Program.

Here are details on the latest round of funding:

Mankato – North Riverfront Drive, $26,700

Mankato was awarded $26,700 in investigation funding for this 0.29-acre site. The site, which previously contained a beer storage and distribution facility, a feed store and a dry cleaner, will be redeveloped into a three-story mixed-use building offering commercial and residential space. The project is expected to create eight jobs and increase the tax base by $25,875. Matching costs will be paid by the developer.

Local contact: City of Mankato, Kristin Prososki, 507-387-8687

Minneapolis – 10th Avenue Redevelopment, $235,550

Minneapolis received $235,550 in cleanup funding for this 1.18-acre site containing petroleum, metals and other contaminants. Past uses at the site include an iron scrapyard, auto repair business and brass foundry. Plans call for rehabbing a building into 21,064 square feet of Class A office space, a retail component and a six-story parking ramp. The project will create 41 jobs, retain 80 jobs and increase the tax base by $146,346. Matching costs will be paid by the developer.

Local contact: City of Minneapolis, Kevin Carroll, 612-673-5181

Minneapolis – Leef Project, $289,025

Minneapolis was awarded $289,025 in cleanup funding for this 1.84-acre site containing petroleum and other contaminants. The site was previously used for industrial dry cleaning. Redevelopment plans calls for renovating part of an existing building into 50,000 square feet of office/light production space and the construction of a six-story, 105-unit apartment building. The project will create one job, retain 200 jobs and increase the tax base by $375,553. Matching costs will be paid by the developer and other grant sources.

Local contact: City of Minneapolis, Kevin Carroll, 612-673-5181

Minneapolis – Midwest Climbing Redevelopment, $319,871

Minneapolis was approved for $319,871 in cleanup funding for this 1.72-acre site contaminated with petroleum and other pollutants. Formerly used by an agricultural company for grain and oil storage, the site will be redeveloped into an 18,900-square-foot facility for indoor rock climbing. The project will create 13 jobs, retain two jobs and increase the tax base by $86,166. Matching costs will be paid by the developer.

Local contact: City of Minneapolis, Kevin Carroll, 612-673-5181

Minneapolis – Nordic House, $1 million

Minneapolis was awarded $1 million in cleanup funding for this 1.56-acre site containing petroleum and other contaminants. Past uses at the site include residential flats, a stable, a dump and parking lots. Plans call for building a 10-story mixed-use building offering nine stories of office space, 7,400 square feet of retail space and 59 apartment units. The project will create 333 jobs, retain 404 jobs and increase the tax base by $1.28 million. Matching costs will be paid by the developer and other grant sources.

Local contact: City of Minneapolis, Kevin Carroll, 612-673-5181

Minneapolis – Superior Plating Lot 2, $790,163

Minneapolis received $790,163 in cleanup funding for this 1.28-acre site contaminated with petroleum and other pollutants. The site, formerly occupied by coal yards, fueling companies, a plating facility and a gas station, will be redeveloped into a 26-story residential tower with 250 apartment units and 2,185 square feet of retail space, and a four-story parking ramp. This project will create 23 jobs and increase the tax base by $912,434. Matching costs will be paid by the developer. Local contact: City of Minneapolis, Kevin Carroll, 612-673-5181

Minneapolis – Target Field Station, $158,620

Minneapolis was awarded $158,620 in cleanup funding for this 0.89-acre site polluted with petroleum and other contaminants. The former lumber yard and parking lot will be redeveloped into an eight-story, 154-room hotel and four-story performance venue. This project will create 64 jobs and increase the tax base by $732,236. Matching costs will be paid by the developer and other grant sources. Local contact: City of Minneapolis, Kevin Carroll, 612-673-5181

Rochester – Broadway Phase II, $50,000

Rochester was approved for $50,000 in investigation funding for this 1-acre site with suspected petroleum and non-petroleum contamination. Formerly used for parking and a variety of commercial activities, the site will be redeveloped into a 255-unit apartment tower, a 155-room hotel and over 60,000 square feet of retail space. It is anticipated the project will create 69 jobs and increase the tax base by $3.9 million. Matching costs will be paid by the developer.

Local contact: City of Rochester, Terry Spaeth, 507-328-2008

South St. Paul Economic Development Authority – Verderosa Avenue, $864,276

The South St. Paul Economic Development Authority was awarded $864,276 in cleanup funding for this 9.25-acre site contaminated with petroleum and other pollutants. Formerly used as a landfill for local stockyards and demolition materials, the site will be redeveloped by a trucking and construction firm. The project will create 10 jobs, retain 40 jobs and increase the tax base by $20,106. Matching costs will be paid by the developer.

Local contact: South St. Paul EDA, Ryan Garcia, 651-554-3278

St. Louis Park Economic Development Authority – PLACE, $895,125

The St. Louis Park Economic Development Authority was awarded $895,125 in cleanup funding for this 6.94-acre site containing petroleum and other contaminants. The site, formerly used for industrial purposes including food manufacturing and packaging, railroad disposal, steel manufacturing and petroleum storage, will be redeveloped with 299 apartment units (including 200 affordable units), a 110-room hotel, café, coffee shop, bike shop, urban forest and e-generation plant. The project will create 35 jobs and increase the tax base by $1.1 million. Matching costs will be paid by the developer and other grant sources.

Local contact: St. Louis Park EDA, Julie Grove, 952-924-2523

DEED is the state’s principal economic development agency, promoting business recruitment, expansion and retention, workforce development, international trade and community development. For more details about the agency and its services, visit the DEED website or follow DEED on Twitter.