Is roadwork economic development? Are nursing facilities, or water towers? How about a giant spoon with a cherry on top?
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has $47.5 million to spend on economic development projects, and the list of grant applicants is now public. There are 90 applicants -- many of them small cities -- and the items they're asking funding for run a wide range, from sports facilities and industrial parks to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and a host of sewer and roadwork projects. (There's a water tower in Corcoran, Minn. that needs $1.1 million, for, ahem, economic development.)
St. Paul, of course, wants more than half the money -- $27 million -- for a new regional ballpark in Lowertown. The Metropolitan Council wants $14 million for the Southwest Light Rail Transit line. The city of Mankato wants $14.5 million to renovate and expand its civic center. Ramsey County wants $5.9 million to acquire and clean up the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant in Arden Hills. Rochester is looking for $25 million for the Mayo Civic Center.
The full list is online here: http://www.positivelyminnesota.com/About_Us/Competitive_Contract_Opportunities/Capital_Projects_Grant_Program.aspx
In a conference call with reporters, DEED Commissioner Mark Phillips on Tuesday said eight of the 90 proposed projects were included in Gov. Mark Dayton's original bonding request to the Legislature, but didn't make the cut with lawmakers, who basically punted some of the tough decisions on how to spend public infrastructure money back to DEED and the governor's office.
His department is accustomed to doling out funds for sewer and water lines, or transportation projects, but this sort of economic development free-for-all is brand new and, he said, not exactly his cup of tea. Many of the applications DEED received were for run-of-the-mill road projects, storm sewer projects and even a water tower, and he questions whether those are even large enough to comply with the grant requirements, which called for projects over $1 million.
"I don't think this has ever been done before, where the Legislature gave up their ability to decide the bonds," Phillips said. "And frankly, the governor and I weren't that keen on this. ... We don't think this is our role. This has been the Legislature's role since 1858, I think. It seems odd that they're going to give a small amount of the money, a relatively small amount, to DEED. ... It's just not usually government buildings and city-owned projects. It's a little different twist on it."
There are about 10 or 11 economic development criteria that the Legislature included when it charged DEED with creating the $47.5 million grant fund, and regional significance is one of them. From his perspective, that gives the Saints ballpark a pretty good score.
"I'm assuming that the Saints ballpark would score pretty high, just because of the regional nature," Phillips said. "It's certainly likely to score pretty well."
But community support is another criterion, and by that measure, the biggest community letter-writing effort has been on behalf of a hockey rink in North Minneapolis, he said with a bit of a chuckle. Ultimately, Phillips and his staff will make a recommendation, and the governor will do as the governor sees fit.
Here's some other applicants: Minneapolis is looking for $25 million to redesign Nicollet Mall. The Minneapolis Parks and Rec. Board wants $750,000 for the city's sculpture garden. A Minneapolis school district wants $2.78 million to update athletic facilities.
The city of Maplewood would like $1.28 million for a public safety training center for the east metro, while the city of Maple Plain would appreciate $930,000 for streets, sewer and water line improvements. Marshall, Minn. is asking for $4 million for a regional amateur sports center.
On Mille Lacs Lake about two hours north of the Twin Cities, the resort community of Isle, Minn. wants $500,000 to replace the Malone Island Bridge and sewers. Over in Dodge County, west of Rochester, the small city of Kasson, Minn. (population: 5,900) wants $2.37 million for an industrial park, and another $1.1 million for wastewater treatment improvements.
West St. Paul wants $3.45 million for a sports dome, Dakota County wants $3 million for a trail and visitor's centers, and Woodbury wants $1.5 million to expand its sports center.
The post St. Paul Saints vs. a water tower in Corcoran, Minn.? appeared first on City Hall Scoop.