DEED Awards $4.3 Million for Transportation Infrastructure

St. PAUL – The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) awarded grants totaling nearly $4.3 million for four transportation infrastructure projects that will encourage economic growth.

The funding was awarded through DEED’s Transportation Economic Development Infrastructure (TEDI) Program for projects in Pennington County, Duluth, Chaska and Brooklyn Park. The program provides funding for infrastructure projects that expand economic development opportunities, create jobs and improve transportation systems.

“TEDI recognizes that there is a relationship between highway and street improvements and economic growth,” said DEED Commissioner Shawntera Hardy. “Local businesses will expand and the community will gain jobs, thanks to these projects.”

The following projects received funding:

Pennington County, $1 million

The funding will help pay for a new alternative route around Thief River Falls that will allow faster truck transportation to Digi-Key and Artic Cat. The current route requires trucks to travel through the downtown area and sit for extended periods at a rail crossing. The Digi-Key project will create 500 new jobs and retain 3,700 jobs over the next five years. The Minnesota Department of Transportation is also contributing $1 million to the project. Total project cost is $5.77 million.

Duluth, $1.1 million

The funding will assist with the extension of Waseca Industrial Park Road. The project will replace a railroad crossing that is being closed and provide better access for trucks to Highway 23 without driving through a residential neighborhood and an area with an elementary school. Businesses assisted include Verso, IPS Crane, North Shore Track Services, Moline Machinery and Loll Designs. The project will create 351 jobs and retain 269 jobs within five years. Total project cost is $2.28 million.

Brooklyn Park, $1.5 million

The project involves building a new interchange at U.S. Highway 169 and 101st Avenue North. The interchange will improve access to Target headquarters, Wurth Adams, Nilfisk, Perbix, Reliable Medical Supply, Takeda, Southern Graphics and other businesses. The project will create 2,549 jobs and retain 10,237 jobs within five years. The Minnesota Department of Transportation is contributing $10 million to the project. Total project cost is $37 million.

Chaska, $650,000

The funding will support construction of a new street in downtown Chaska that will provide better access to a redevelopment area. The street is needed due to reconstruction of Highway 61 that will remove accesses to the businesses. Businesses assisted are Cooper Foods, Java Cos., Alliance Contracting, a proposed restaurant and office/commercial space. The project will create 72 jobs and retain 53 jobs within five years. The total cost of the project is $1.08 million.

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.