DEED Awards Small Cities Development Grants

ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) awarded 35 grants totaling more than $19 million for rehabilitation and infrastructure projects in Greater Minnesota.

The Small Cities Development Program is part of the Community Development Block Grant Program administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and is funded by Congress. The program helps pay for rehabilitating housing and commercial buildings and updating public infrastructure in small cities and counties.

“The vitality of our communities depends upon strong infrastructure and good, affordable housing,” said Governor Mark Dayton. “These grants will help improve those essential resources in communities throughout Minnesota.”

“These grants provide an important investment in Greater Minnesota communities,” said DEED Commissioner Shawntera Hardy. “This funding will help to increase and improve much needed housing which leads to positive economic activity.”

To be eligible for Small Cities funding, a project must meet one of three objectives: benefit people of low and moderate incomes, eliminate slum and blighted conditions, or eliminate an urgent threat to public health or safety.

Cities and townships with populations under 50,000 and counties with populations under 200,000 are eligible for grants under the program. Projects must be completed within 30 months, depending on size and scope.

The following projects received funding:

Brainerd, $638,338

Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation, rental housing rehabilitation, and commercial building rehabilitation

Caledonia, $824,698

Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation, rental housing rehabilitation, and commercial building rehabilitation

Clarkfield, $1,107,430

Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation, commercial building rehabilitation, and a public facility project

Deerwood, $554,893

Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation, rental housing rehabilitation, and commercial building rehabilitation

Elgin, $303,600

Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation

Emily, $229,000

Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation

Eyota, $287,500

Rental housing rehabilitation

Granite Falls, $625,888

Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation, rental housing rehabilitation, and commercial building rehabilitation

Kensington, $600,000

Public facility improvements

Kerkhoven/DeGraff, $320,625

Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation

Lake Benton, $634,800

Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation and commercial building rehabilitation

Lake City, $809,400

Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation and commercial building rehabilitation

Lake/Silver Bay, $508,750

Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation and commercial building rehabilitation

Mahnomen, $354,775

Rental rehabilitation

Marshall, $603,750

Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation and commercial building rehabilitation

Melrose, $315,600

Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation and commercial building

Menahga, $236,700

Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation and commercial building rehabilitation

Morris, $421,875

Rental housing rehabilitation

Onamia, $600,000

Public facility improvements

Pine River, $595,000

Public facility improvements

Raymond, $437,000

Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation

Red Lake Falls, $593,400

Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation and commercial building rehabilitation

Sabin, $258,525

Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation

St. James, $663,320

Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation, rental housing rehabilitation, and commercial building rehabilitation

St. Joseph, $178,624

Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation

Starbuck, $941,260

Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation, rental housing rehabilitation, commercial building rehabilitation, and streetscape

Tyler/Ruthton, $460,000

Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation

Verndale, $600,000

Public facility improvements

Warroad, $599,955

Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation and rental housing rehabilitation

Willmar, $1,205,177

Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation, rental housing rehabilitation, and commercial building rehabilitation

Willow River, $345,711

Public facility improvements due to flooding damage

Windom, $418,600

Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation

Winger, $600,000

Public facility improvements

Winnebago, $869,100

Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation and public facility improvements

Winona, $296,349

Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation

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 us on Twitter.