WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that they have secured significant federal funding for local projects benefiting the Twin Cities and surrounding areas. These projects will help improve the region’s infrastructure, provide resources for law enforcement and other emergency responders, expand access to broadband, and increase workforce development opportunities.
“This federal funding will have a real impact in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas. From making infrastructure improvements to expanding access to broadband and workforce development programs, these projects will address key issues impacting Minnesotans on a daily basis. I am proud to have worked with leaders from across the Twin Cities and surrounding areas to secure the resources for these projects, and I look forward to seeing all the good they will do,” said Klobuchar.
“These projects will be transformational for communities in and around the Twin Cities,” said Smith. “This funding will take huge strides towards improving public safety, bolstering public health, supporting quality job training, and upgrading our infrastructure. I am particularly proud of our work to secure investments that will directly improve the lives of Minnesotans.”
“This funding supports our priorities to improve public safety and public health, fuel economic inclusion, and grow affordable housing for our Minneapolis residents, and will be a critical investment into our community,” said Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. “I’m grateful for the support of our affordable housing goals through investments in Wadaag Commons, a 32-unit affordable housing project in Seward Commons, and strengthening fire protections for low-income residents at the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority. Thank you to Senator Klobuchar for securing these funds for our community and across the state.”
“This funding from the federal government will help make our city safer, healthier, and stronger,” said Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter. “From investments in our comprehensive neighborhood safety initiatives to critical resources to help our students succeed, I know the support for these projects will improve the lives of all of us in Saint Paul.”
Funding secured by Klobuchar and Smith will help further the following priorities:
- Strengthening Infrastructure
- $3.5 million for the City of Shakopee to stabilize the Minnesota River for turbidity and protect critical infrastructure.
- $3.5 million for Rogers County to fund its Fletcher Lane bypass project that will strengthen highway infrastructure and boost rural mobility.
- $3 million for the City of South Saint Paul to create a 50-acre industrial park that will serve as an economic center.
- $3 million for the City of Cottage Grove to construct public street and utility infrastructure.
- $2.5 million for Carver County to expand Highway 212 and improve freight efficiency.
- $2 million for Carver County to continue developing highway infrastructure and increasing Highway 5 lane capacity.
- $2 million for the City of Chaska to initiate development and construction on a Southwest Chaska business park.
- $1.8 million for the City of Minneapolis to complete the Wadaag Commons, a multi-phased, mixed-income redevelopment housing project.
- $1.3 million for the Bruce Vento Trail Extension, which helps complete major gaps in the Regional Bike Transportation Network and provide a much-needed multi-modal trail.
- $1.2 million for the City of Brooklyn Park to create an underpass at West River Road to boost transit safety.
- $1.12 million for the City of Jordan to create a multi-use underpass.
- $1 million to create a Central Greenway multiuse regional trail to improve regional and local pedestrian and biking connectivity.
- $1 million for the Neighborhood Development Center to ensure long-term affordability for commercial spaces in the Chicago-Lake Rebuilding Program.
- $1 million for the St. Paul Small Harbor to conduct dredging operations and bolster watercraft accessibility.
- $500,000 for the Metropolitan Council to help extend the METRO Blue Line as part of the Bottineau Light Rail Transit Project.
- Supporting workforce development opportunities
- $2 million for Finishing Trades Institute of the Upper Midwest, Little Canada to create an apprenticeship pathway program for middle and high school students.
- $2 million for Summit Academy to expand its Minnesota at Work program, which builds foundational work skills and prepares participants for skilled training and/or full-time employment.
- $500,000 for the International Institute of Minnesota to increase the capacity of its core programming.
- $500,000 for Saint Paul College to increase postsecondary access for American Indian students.
- $223,000 for the Sanneh International Foundation to expand their Dreamline academic support and mentorship program for low-income, underperforming students.
- Improving public safety and public health
- $2 million for the City of Saint Paul to replace its fleet radios used by first responders to ensure continuity of communications and safety.
- $2 million for the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority to strengthen fire protections for low-income residences.
- $1.5 million for the Metropolitan Airport Commission to centralize and strengthen airport police and first responders operations on the MSP airport campus.
- $1.5 million for the City of Saint Paul Police Department to build a pathway to law enforcement careers for young adults who have traditionally faced additional barriers.
- $500,000 for Hennepin County to create a Family Dependency Treatment Court to help address the opioid crisis.
- $500,000 for Hennepin County to support capital needs across the five-shelter system.
- $300,000 for Women’s Advocates Inc. in St. Paul to fund their emergency domestic violence shelter, which annually provides safety, basic needs, and caring support and advocacy to 125 victims/survivors and up to 150 of their children.
- Upgrading healthcare facilities
- $4.6 million for Hennepin Healthcare to rebuild the Hennepin Healthcare East Lake Clinic.
- $1 million for North Memorial Health Hospital, Robbinsdale to improve its emergency department and better contain and isolate infectious diseases.
Klobuchar and Smith have been actively involved in securing this federal funding for projects benefiting communities across the state through a process called “Congressionally Directed Spending” (CDS). Throughout the CDS process, Klobuchar and Smith considered project proposals and advocated for funding in close coordination with leaders from across the state.
Projects are expected to receive funding over the next several months.
“We are grateful for Senators Klobuchar and Smith’s commitment to Hennepin County and our community. They have been strong champions for rail and transit, as well as the emergency shelter for those experiencing homelessness. They have worked tirelessly to expand health care access through the state’s flagship safety net hospital along with addressing the chemical health needs of our most vulnerable families,” said Hennepin County Board Chair Commissioner Marion Greene. “Senator Klobuchar’s unwavering dedication to our community, to our region, makes us all stronger and more resilient together. These investments will be transformative. Generations to come can thank Senator Klobuchar for all she has done – from her days as a Hennepin County Attorney to boldly and faithfully representing Minnesotans as a U.S. Senator – we all have benefitted from her leadership.”
“The Metropolitan Airports Commission is appreciative of Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith’s continued dedication to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP),” said Brian Ryks, CEO of the MAC. “The emergency operations center is part of a new public safety building being planned for at MSP that will further enhance safe and efficient operations at MSP, building on the airport’s industry-leading record that supports growth in air travel and commerce across the Twin Cities and the state of Minnesota.”
“Successfully serving the diverse needs of our patients and communities demands state-of-the-art facilities and North Memorial Health is grateful that our federal congressional delegation agrees,” said Dr. J. Kevin Croston, North Memorial Health CEO. “Senator Klobuchar was instrumental in sponsoring a $1 million request for Congressional Directed Spending to help us renovate our Level 1 Trauma Center for life in a post-COVID world. We thank her for her partnership to-date, and we look forward to making these plans a reality.”
“As Minnesota’s fastest-growing county, we have taken the lead in rebuilding critical highway infrastructure on our state’s roadway network. Both Highway 5 and US Highway 212 serve as critical County corridors to move freight, provide efficient and reliable vehicle mobility, and safe travel for everyone,” said Gayle Degler, Carver County Board of Commissioners Chair representing District 1, including the cities of Chaska and Chanhassen. “The Carver County Board of Commissioners greatly appreciates the $2 million grant for the Highway 5 mobility and Lake Minnewashta bridge project, as well as the $2.5 million grant for US Highway 212. These grants are vital for our County to move forward with design and construction of these important projects.”
“The City of Chaska is thankful to Senator Klobuchar, in addition to Senator Smith and Representative Phillips, for their support through the congressionally directed project. With this major sewer extension project, Chaska will be able to open 360 acres of land for business and industrial development which will support around 10,000 new jobs in 10 years for the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area. We are very excited about this project and thanks for all your help,” said Chaska Mayor Mark Windschitl.
“The City of Jordan sincerely thanks US Representative Angie Craig, US Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, current and past City Council members for their vision and dedication to the project, the Scott County Board and Staff, State Representative Tony Albright, and State Senator Eric Pratt,” said Jordan Mayor Michael Franklin.
“Receiving federal funding for the pedestrian underpass at Mississippi Gateway Regional Park is important and will make a difference for the community and region. This project will provide a safe trail crossing for children and other trail users visiting, playing and learning about nature at the Three Rivers Regional Park and the Brooklyn Park Nature Area,” said Three Rivers Park Commissioner Jennifer DeJournett, whose district includes the park. “The Mississippi Gateway Redevelopment Project is a partnership between the City of Brooklyn Park and Three Rivers Park District and is creating a destination regional park that will invite and encourage everyone to explore the Mississippi River and connect with the outdoors. The pedestrian underpass will provide a critical connection under West River Road, linking the two main areas of the park and allowing for safe and easy access. I’d like to thank Senator Klobuchar, Senator Smith and Representative Phillips for their efforts to secure federal funding for this project.”
“Residents have shown they love the parks and trails,” said Wayne Johnson, Washington County Board of Commissioners Chair. “The Central Greenway project will advance our goal of creating connector trails to three premiere regional parks in Washington County. This Greenway will help forge bonds between Washington County and its communities, benefitting all who use it for recreation or commuting. We are grateful for the leadership and support of Senator Klobuchar to help make Washington County a great place to live, work, and play.”
“We are grateful for the support of Senators Klobuchar and Smith,” said Dee Dee Peaslee, EdD, Saint Paul College President. “This congressionally directed funding will make an immediate impact in the expansion of the Four Directions Pathway initiative, which is designed to aid in the success of the American Indian and indigenous communities in Minnesota by developing culturally responsive supports for students and families from high school through college. We are also appreciative of our local partners including the Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) Indian Education Program, American Indian Family Center (AIFC), City of Saint Paul Right Track, and MIGIZI. Together we will work to close the education gap for native students in Minnesota.”
“We at the Finishing Trades Institute of the Upper Midwest thank Senators Klobuchar and Smith for their leadership in obtaining the critical resources needed to help us provide equitable access to apprenticeships and careers in the finishing trades,” said Jeff Stark, District Council 82 Finishing Trades Institute of the Upper Midwest’s Board of Trustees Co-Chair. “We look forward to our continued partnership with Senators Klobuchar and Smith. 47.6% of current FTIUM apprentices are women and/or people of color, and the senator’s support of this project allows us to continue our work recruiting underserved populations in Minnesota into the trades.”
“NDC is thrilled and humbled by this opportunity to support the development of the site at E. Lake Street and Chicago Avenue,” said Renay Dossman, Neighborhood Development Center President. “We thank Senators Klobuchar and Smith for their unwavering support, and we look forward to sharing with the community how this funding will impact BIPOC business owners.”
“This federal funding shows that Minnesota means business. The opportunity has never been greater to move people from poverty to the middle class,” added Louis King, Summit Academy OIC CEO. “We can solve our labor shortage problem by helping our greatest untapped resource; the forgotten people from forgotten places, whether they live in Greater Minnesota or the Twin Cities. America works when America works together and expanding access to these job training programs to more people is a great example of this.”
“Opioid overdose deaths increased a staggering 39% last year in Minnesota, rising to 1,177, more than 3 died every day in 2021. Young adults are being impacted at greater and faster rates than other age groups. This grant to Change the Outcome will save lives through educational initiatives directed at youth through our schools and community outreach programs, throughout the state of Minnesota” said Colleen Ronnei, Change the Outcome Founder and Executive Director.
“The Sanneh Foundation is extremely grateful to Senators Klobuchar and Smith for their support and recommendations for Dreamline to be included in President Biden’s Budget for fiscal year 2022,” said Tony Sanneh, Sanneh Foundation CEO. “Receiving congressionally directed spending will further Dreamline’s work to bring educational equity to Minnesota’s students through culturally responsive tutoring and mentoring and by hiring educators and potential teachers that share many of the same lived experiences as the diverse students they serve. We are proud to live in a state where our elected officials work together to bring home all the resources available to reduce disparities of opportunities and outcomes in our communities.”
“The City of Shakopee appreciates the awareness pertaining to the critical need of the project and the partnership with Congress to preserve and stabilize the riverbank,” Steve Lillehaug, PE, PTOE, Public Works Director/City Engineer, City of Shakopee.
“Women’s Advocates is thrilled to have been selected to receive this Congressionally Directed Spending, which will allow us to strengthen our investment in emergency shelter and services for victims/survivors of domestic violence during a time of increased violence and critical need in our community. Last year Women’s Advocates provided shelter and wrap-around services to 145 domestic violence survivors — with this additional funding, we’ll be on track to provide shelter, services, and access to safe and stable housing to at least as many in the coming year,” said Estelle Brouwer, Women’s Advocates Executive Director. “On behalf of Women’s Advocates and the domestic violence victim/survivors we serve, heartfelt thanks to Senators Klobuchar and Smith for working to secure this important funding, and for their deep and longstanding commitment to supporting the rights and safety of domestic violence victims/survivors.”
“At Vinland National Center, we are fortunate to have ongoing support and assistance from our federal congressional delegation. In this case, Senators Klobuchar and Smith were instrumental in sponsoring our $500,000 request for Congressionally Directed Spending to help us renovate our facility with much needed improvements for our patients,” said Mary Roehl, Executive Director, Vinland National Center. “We are truly grateful for our relationship with Senators Klobuchar and Smith.”
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