Nearly $3 million in federal grants will improve infrastructure at northwestern Minnesota airports and a $6.1 million federal loan will improve electric service in northern Minnesota, the state's congressional delegation announced today.
In written statements, senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken and Rep. Collin Peterson said improving airport infrastructure strengthens communities' economies and provides construction jobs as well as improving the condition of the rural airports.
The grants from the Federal Aviation Administration through the Department of Transportation include: nearly $1.3 million to extend the taxiway and other improvements at Baudette International Airport; $488,679 to improve the taxiway and hangar area at Roseau Municipal Airport; $457,000 to construct an arrival and departure building and improve the parking lot at Winsted Municipal Airport; $173,850 to improve the access road, parking lot and runway at Litchfield Municipal Airport; $132,208 to improve the taxiway at Fosston Municipal Airport; $119,907 to construct a fuel facility at Ortonville Municipal Airport and $25,000 to improve overall infrastructure at Staples Municipal Airport.
The $6.1 million loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to North Star Electric Cooperative in Baudette will help build 46 miles of electric distribution and upgrade 62 miles of existing distribution line.
The cooperative serves thousands of members in Lake of the Woods, Roseau, Koochiching and Saint Louis counties and makes up a portion of the Touchstone Energy network, which serves more than 40 million Americans.
