Oslo Awarded $4.2 Million for Water Infrastructure Project

ST. PAUL – The city of Oslo was approved for state and federal funding of more than $4.2 million for water infrastructure improvements.

Oslo, a city of 330 people in northwestern Minnesota’s Marshall County, will use the funding to install nearly 18,000 feet of iron water main, 800 lineal feet of casing pipe, 39 fire hydrants and 95 gate valves.

Grants and loans for the project were awarded by the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority (PFA), the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

“Water infrastructure projects are a top priority in communities throughout the state, particular small cities in Greater Minnesota,” said Shawntera Hardy, who chairs the PFA board and is commissioner of DEED. “This project will give Oslo an up-to-date water system that it otherwise could not afford to install.”

The following is a breakdown of funding for the project:

• PFA – $1.7 million grant from the Water Infrastructure Fund

• DEED – $600,000 grant from the Small Cities Development Program

• USDA – $991,000 grant and $922,000 loan from the agency’s Office of Rural Development

The Minnesota Public Facilities Authority provides financing and technical assistance to help communities build and maintain infrastructure that protects public health and the environment and promotes economic growth. Since inception in 1987, the PFA has financed $4.5 billion in public infrastructure projects in communities throughout Minnesota. Read more at the PFA website.