Minnesota will spend $17.4 million on eight infrastructure projects in the Twin Cities Metro and Greater Minnesota. The projects "create development opportunities and jobs," according to a press release from the office of Governor Tim Walz.
The funding comes from Minnesota's competitive Transportation Economic Development (TED) and Transportation Economic Development Infrastructure (TEDI) programs through a collaboration between MnDOT, the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), and local government and private sector partners.
“Investing in our transportation system helps strengthen communities, create jobs, and promote economic growth,” said Gov. Walz in a statement. “ These projects will support a broad range of opportunities for business growth, ranging from business incubators to small businesses to meat processing plants, while improving the safety and efficiency of our transportation system.”
Said Nancy Daubenberger, MnDOT commissioner, in a statement:
“This round of Transportation Economic Development funding leverages local public and private funding to complete road projects that help create safe, vibrant communities, connect local businesses to their customers and supply chains, and connect people to jobs. The projects also improve local and regional safety, and demonstrate how a strong multi-modal transportation system supports healthy communities.”
Minnesota projects include:
- City of Waconia, $5 million: Assist with completion of the Highway 5 Phase 2 Reconstruction Project.
- Dakota County, $2.4 million: Improve the existing Highway 52/County Road 42 interchange in Rosemount.
- City of Brooklyn Center, $500,000: Reconstruct and replace streets and utilities on Opportunity Site.
- City of Hastings, $2.73 million: Reconstruct Highway 61 through Hastings.
- City of Norwood Young America, $900,000: Construct streets and utilities to expand the Tacoma West Industrial Park.
- Carver County, $3.7 million: Construct a new roundabout to improve safety and mobility at the Highway 5/County Road 11 intersection in Victoria.
- Mahnomen County, $125,000: Install new right-turn lane from Highway 59 into the new Benson and Turner Foods plant
- Aitkin County, $2.1 million: Construct a roundabout at the intersection of Highway 65/Highway 210/County Road 8 in McGregor.
An additional TED funding solicitation will open in summer 2024, with $4.4 million in TED funds available for projects exclusively in Greater Minnesota.
