Walz announces $21M boost for economic development in Greater Minnesota

ST. PAUL — Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan announced Tuesday over $20 million in funding for small cities, townships and counties in Minnesota. The Small Cities Development Program (SCDP) grants will be used for infrastructure and rehabilitation projects in 34 Minnesota cities, townships and counties.

“From St. Peter to Swanville, Minnesota does better when all of our neighborhoods are thriving,” Walz said in a news release. “These grants are going directly to smaller communities to help with infrastructure projects and keep our cities growing and thriving. We are working to make Minnesota the best state to live, work and raise a family — no matter where you live.”

“By investing in projects that will keep moving Minnesota forward, this program will address current and emerging needs for communities across Minnesota,” Flanagan said in the release. “Minnesota is in a strong economic position, and we will keep working to make sure all of our cities are thriving.”

SCDP grants will be administered by the Department of Employment and Economic Development and are part of the Community Development Block Grant Program of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The grants are administered by DEED’s Small Cities Development Program Unit. The SCDP grants pay for rehabilitating housing and commercial buildings and updating public infrastructure in small cities and counties.

The SCDP awards announced Tuesday total $20,820,999, and are to be used for owner-occupied housing rehabilitation, rental rehabilitation, commercial rehabilitation, public facility improvement projects, community centers and streetscape projects.

Minnesota communities to be awarded grants include:

• Ada: $506,000, owner-occupied housing rehabilitation
• Balaton: $599,955, owner-occupied housing and rental rehabilitation
• Bellechester: $600,000, public facility improvements
• Cannon Falls: $591,675, owner-occupied housing rehabilitation
• Cass Lake: $345,000, owner-occupied housing rehabilitation
• Cloquet: $483,649, public facility improvements
• Dalton: $600,000, public facility improvements
• Danube: $600,000, public facility improvements
• Harmony: $1,017,750, owner-occupied housing and commercial rehabilitation
• Harris: $600,000, public facility improvements
• Hendricks/Garvin: $1,198,325, owner-occupied housing, rental rehabilitation and public facility improvements
• Jackson: $1,035,000, owner-occupied housing and commercial rehabilitation
• Karlstad $507,380, owner-occupied housing and rental rehabilitation
• Kiester: $600,000, public facility improvements
• Mahnomen: $600,000, public facility improvements
• Maynard: $115,000, rental rehabilitation
• Mazeppa: $595,125, owner-occupied housing and rental rehabilitation
• Mountain Lake: $759,000, owner-occupied housing and commercial rehabilitation
• Newfolden: $880,900, owner-occupied housing and commercial rehabilitation
• Ortonville: $782,000, owner-occupied housing and commercial rehabilitation
• Princeton: $600,000, public facility improvements
• Rollingstone/Altura: $581,900, owner-occupied housing and rental rehabilitation
• Roosevelt: $132,250, owner-occupied housing rehabilitation
• St. Peter: $575,000, rental rehabilitation
• Sanborn: $600,000, public facility improvements
• Sandstone: $517,500, owner-occupied housing and commercial rehabilitation
• Sebeka: $609,500, owner-occupied housing, rental and commercial rehabilitation
• Slayton: $737,840, owner-occupied housing, rental and commercial rehabilitation
• Strandquist: $253,000, owner-occupied housing rehabilitation
• Swanville: $546,250, owner-occupied housing, rental and commercial rehabilitation
• Swanville: $600,000, public facility improvements
• Taconite: $600,000, public facility improvements
• Thief River Falls: $600,000, rental rehabilitation
• Roseau County: $563,500, owner-occupied housing rehabilitation
• Twin Lakes Township: $287,500, owner-occupied housing rehabilitation

Cities and townships with populations under 50,000 and counties with populations under 200,000 can apply for SCDP grants. Eligible projects 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.