May 20, 2010 - DEED Sets Workshops on Redevelopment Grant Program

ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) will hold five workshops around the state in June to provide details about the agency’s Redevelopment Grant Program.

The program has $3 million available to help communities offset the costs of cleaning up and developing blighted properties. Workshops are scheduled for Austin, Brooklyn Park, Granite Falls, Detroit Lakes and Grand Rapids.

“The workshops are designed to provide valuable information about the Redevelopment Grant Program and give us feedback about how we are meeting the needs of our communities,” said DEED Commissioner Dan McElroy. “They also will give us an opportunity to discuss a potential new feature of the program related to demolition loans.”

The program helps cities, counties and other units of government pay for up to 50 percent of the cost of land acquisition, demolition, infrastructure and other project-related improvements related to redeveloping blighted property.

An overview of the grant program is available at www.tinyurl.com/29br9bb, along with applications, forms and instructions.  

The deadline for applying for this round of funding is 4 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 2

A new facet that is being considered for the redevelopment program is the Demolition Loan Program, which would provide funding for demolishing blighted buildings on sites that have future development potential but where there are no current development plans in place.  

Details about the proposed loan program are available at www.tinyurl.com/28bvv5o. The site includes a Potential Project Application form that interested parties can fill out to help DEED officials gauge future needs.

Following are the locations and dates of the workshops:

Austin
Wednesday, June 9
10 a.m.to noon
Mower County Courthouse
Board Room
201 First St. NE
Austin, MN 55912

Metro
Tuesday, June 22
10 a.m. to noon
Hennepin North WorkForce Center
Conference Rooms 1 & 2
7225 Northland Drive
Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

Granite Falls
Thursday, June 24
10 a.m. to noon
Minnesota West Community and Technical College
Auditorium
1593 11th Ave.
Granite Falls, MN 56241

Detroit Lakes
Monday, June 28
1 to 3 p.m.
Detroit Lake City Hall
Council Chambers Room                    
1025 Roosevelt Ave.    
Detroit Lakes, MN 56502    

Grand Rapids
Tuesday, June 29
9 to 11 a.m.
Itasca Resource Center, Room 122
1209 Southeast Second Ave.
Grand Rapids, MN 55744

For questions, contact Irene Dassier, 651-259-7449 or Irene.dassier@state.mn.us .

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.

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