May 12 - DEED Awards Funding for Small Cities Grants

ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has awarded 46 grants totaling more than $21 million to help pay for improvements for housing, commercial property and public infrastructure in Greater Minnesota.

The grants were awarded under the Small Cities Development Program through funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“These grants will help improve living conditions and expand economic opportunities for residents in Greater Minnesota,” said DEED Commissioner Dan McElroy. “Families and small businesses in 110 communities around the state will see direct benefits from this program.”

The program, which is administered by DEED, makes grants available to cities and townships with populations under 50,000 and counties with populations under 200,000.

Funding is awarded to eligible communities for rehabilitating existing housing stock for low- to moderate-income residents; public infrastructure projects including sewer and wastewater treatment improvements, storm sewers and streets; and comprehensive projects that address a community need such as commercial revitalization, housing rehabilitation and improved public infrastructure.

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 our services, visit us at www.PositivelyMinnesota.com. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/PositivelyMN.

The 2010 Small Cities Development Program awardees are as follows:

2010 Small Cities Development Program Awards

Northwestern

Alvarado, $341,550
Rehabilitate 15 owner-occupied houses in Alvarado and Oslo.
Local contact: Darrell Olson, mayor, 218-965-4911

Becker County, $392,150
Rehabilitate 12 owner-occupied houses and five commercial buildings in Mahnomen, Callaway and Waubun.
Local contact: Jon Thomsen, Becker County Economic Development Authority housing director, 218-846-7316, extension 7106

Clay County, $398,000
Rehabilitate 20 owner-occupied houses in Clay County.
Local contact: Kevin Campbell, chairman, 218-299-5002

McIntosh, $579,600
Rehabilitate 24 owner-occupied houses in McIntosh and Erskine.
Local contact: Bruce Haaven, mayor, 218-563-3043

Newfolden, $211,480
Rehabilitate four commercial buildings in Newfolden and 20 rental housing units in Roseau.
Local contact: James Sethre, mayor, 218-874-7135

Norman County, $88,457
Install a water purification system in Flom Township.
Local contact: Lee Ann Hall, chairperson, 218-784-5471

Winger, $178,250
Rehabilitate five commercial buildings.
Local contact: Cheryl Wang, mayor, 218-938-4150

North Central

Bemidji, $732,550
Install infrastructure to support the development of 20 units of supportive and transitional housing and rehabilitate 14 commercial buildings.
Local contact: Richard Lehmann, mayor, 218-759-3565

Hackensack, $592,250
Rehabilitate eight owner-occupied houses, three rental housing units and 13 commercial buildings in Hackensack and Walker.
Local contact: Mel Rateike, mayor, 218-675-6400

Kelliher, $263,005
Rehabilitate eight owner-occupied houses and acquire and demolish a building. The rehabilitation will take place in Kelliher and the acquisition/demolition in Kittson County.
Local contact: Darin Latterell, mayor, 218-647-8470

Lake of the Woods County, $313,880
Rehabilitate nine owner-occupied houses and five rental housing units in Baudette and Williams.
Local contact: Edward Arnesen, chairman, 218-634-2836

Park Rapids, $665,208
Rehabilitate 18 owner-occupied houses, eight rental housing units and eight commercial buildings in Park Rapids, Akeley and Hubbard County.
Local contact: Nancy Carroll, mayor, 218-732-3163

Squaw Lake, $247,250
Rehabilitate 10 owner-occupied houses in Squaw Lake and Max Township.
Local contact: Toni Wilcox, mayor, 218-659-4271

Northeastern

Lake County/Cook County, $355,200
Rehabilitate 16 owner-occupied houses.
Local contact: Derrick Goutermont, chairman, 218-834-8320

West Central

Alexandria, $396,000
Rehabilitate 20 owner-occupied houses.
Local contact: Dan Hess, mayor, 320-763-6678

Appleton, $564,750
Rehabilitate 15 owner-occupied houses and 10 commercial buildings.
Local contact: Ronald A. Ronning, mayor, 320-289-1363

New York Mills, $857,740
Rehabilitate 21 owner-occupied houses, 15 rental units and five commercial buildings in the New York Mills, Bluffton, Newton Township and Bluffton Townships.
Local contact: Larry Hodgson, mayor, 218-385-2213

Pelican Rapids, $733,940
Rehabilitate 22 owner-occupied houses and 10 commercial buildings in Pelican Rapids, Erhard, Erhards Grove Township and Pelican Township.
Local contact: Ben Woessner, mayor, 218-863-6571

Perham, $460,472
Rehabilitate eight owner-occupied houses, eight rental units and eight commercial buildings.
Local contact: Timothy Meehl, mayor, 218-346-4455

Central

Bertha, $447,600
Rehabilitate 20 owner-occupied houses in Bertha and Hewitt.
Local contact: Dean Klebs, mayor, 218-924-4454

Hutchinson, $399,200
Rehabilitate 20 owner-occupied houses.
Local contact: Steve Cook, mayor, 320-587-5151

Melrose, $206,950
Rehabilitate 10 owner-occupied houses in Melrose and Brooten.
Local contact: Eric Seanger, mayor, 320-256-4278

Pierz, $752,100
Rehabilitate 21 owner-occupied houses and nine commercial buildings in Pierz, Little Falls and Royalton.
Local contact: Toby Egan, mayor, 320-468-6471

Sauk Rapids, $154,368
Assessment abatements for 16 public infrastructures.
Local contact: Mark Campbell, mayor, 320-258-5300

Stearns County, $676,300
Rehabilitate 23 owner-occupied houses and seven commercial buildings in Belgrade and Holdingford.
Local contact: Mark Sakry, chairman, 320-656-3601

Verndale, $449,200
Rehabilitate 20 owner-occupied houses in Verndale and Aldrich.
Local contact: Ardith Carr, mayor, 218-445-5400

East Central

Braham, $600,000
Assist in financing the construction of a community center.
Local contact: Ken Ceagskle, mayor, 320-396-3383

Lindstrom, $209,850
Rehabilitate five rental units and five commercial buildings.
Local contact:  Keith Carlson, mayor, 651-257-0620

Pine County, $531,000
Rehabilitate 20 owner-occupied houses in Willow River, Finlayson and Sturgeon Lake.
Local contact: Doug Carlson, mayor, 320-591-1620

Southwestern

Canby, $754,800
Rehabilitate 21 owner-occupied houses and 15 commercial buildings in Canby and Porter.
Local contact: Eugene Bies, mayor, 507-223-7295

Lamberton, $406,000
Rehabilitate 20 owner-occupied houses in Lamberton and Walnut Grove.
Local contact: Sue Nelson, mayor, 507-752-7601

Luverne, $580,546
Rehabilitate 22 owner-occupied houses and six rental units in Luverne, Jasper and Hills.
Local contact: Andy Steensma, mayor, 507-449-5033

Marshall, $522,500
Rehabilitate 25 owner-occupied houses.
Local contact: Robert Byrnes, mayor, 507-337-0601

Murray County, $393,000
Rehabilitate 20 owner-occupied houses in Murray, Redwood, Lyon and Cottonwood counties.
Local contact: John Giese, chairman, 507-836-6148 x147

Pipestone, $179,000
Rehabilitate 10 owner-occupied houses.
Local contact:  Laurie Ness, mayor, 507-825-3324

Tyler, $539,200
Rehabilitate 18 owner-occupied houses and seven commercial buildings in Tyler and Arco.
Local contact: Darwin Lutterman, mayor, 507-247-5556

Worthington, $254,250
Rehabilitate 15 owner-occupied houses in Worthington, Wilmont and Round Lake.
Local contact: Alan Oberloh, mayor, 507-372-8600

South Central

Blue Earth County, $362,250
Rehabilitate 15 owner-occupied houses in Amboy, Good Thunder, St. Clair and Vernon Center.
Local contact: Will Purvis, chairman, 507-304-4235

Le Sueur County, $483,000
Rehabilitate 20 owner-occupied houses in Elysian, Le Center, New Prague and Waterville.
Local contact: Joe Connolly, chairman, 507-357-6375

Springfield, $640,000
Rehabilitate 20 owner-occupied houses and 10 commercial buildings in Springfield and Sanborn.
Local contact: Mark Brown, mayor, 507-723-3500

Waseca, $434,700
Rehabilitate 18 owner-occupied houses.
Local contact: Roy Srp, mayor, 507-835-9700

Watonwan County, $418,500
Rehabilitate 20 owner-occupied houses in Butterfield, Darfur, LaSalle, Lewisville, Odin and Ormsby.
Local contact: Bill Berg, chairman, 507-375-1210

Southeastern

Canton, $342,000
Rehabilitate 15 owner-occupied houses in Canton, Whalan and Peterson.
Local contact: Donivee Johnson, mayor, 507-743-5000

La Crescent, $456,000
Rehabilitate 20 owner-occupied houses in La Crescent and Dakota.
Local contact: Mike Poellinger, mayor, 507-895-2595

Winona, $768,000
Rehabilitate 25 owner-occupied houses and six commercial buildings.
Local contact: Jerry Miller, mayor, 507-457-8250

Winona County, $389,390
Rehabilitate 10 owner-occupied houses and seven commercial buildings in Goodview, Rollingstone, St. Charles and Stockton.
Local contact: James Pomeroy, chairman, 507-457-6547

Upon request, the information in this news release is available in an alternative format such as Braille, large print, audiotape or computer disk.

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
Communications Office
Phone 651/259-7161 or 1-800-657-3858 ∙ TTY 1-800-657-3973
www.PositivelyMinnesota.com