In This Issue:
- Metro Cities Signs Letter to Governor and Legislators to Urge Special Session
- Corridors of Commerce Webinar
- Legislative Policy Committees
- Upcoming Redevelopment Events
Metro Cities Signs Letter to Governor and Legislators to Urge Special Session
Metro Cities recently signed a letter, along with 16 other local government associations, to urge the Governor and Legislature to hold a special session to address items left unresolved at the conclusion of the regular session that adjourned in late May. President Matt Stemwedel signed the letter on behalf of Metro Cities. The letter highlighted several areas of importance to cities including items in supplemental tax and budget bills, labor shortages in public safety, bonding, federal IIJA match funds, and the need for a framework to address regulation of edible cannabinoid products.
A copy of the letter is attached HERE, and a response received by Speaker Melissa Hortman is attached HERE.
Questions? Contact Patricia Nauman at 651-215-4002 or [email protected].
Corridors of Commerce Webinar
Metro Cities hosted a webinar on Thursday. Patrick Weidemann, Program Director for Capital Planning at MnDOT, presented on the Corridors of Commerce program. Attendees were given background information and learned about important changes for the 2022 project submittal process, which opened on August 1. Click HERE to access the webinar slides.
In past years any individual or organization was able to submit a project for consideration and scoring. For 2022, MnDOT has limited who can recommend projects to area transportation partnerships, metropolitan planning organizations, formal corridor coalitions, cities, counties, townships, and tribal governments. MnDOT is also limiting each entity to one project recommendation. It should be noted that multiple entities can submit different project recommendations for the same area of a roadway. This year, project submittals are required to include a detailed description and a cost estimate (in FY22 dollars) that has been reviewed and agreed to by a licensed professional engineer. Finally, project delivery will be added as scoring criteria following legislative direction in 2021.
Mr. Weidemann spoke about a need for clarity from the legislature around the definition of regional balance, which is not defined in statute. In the past MnDOT has used a 50-50 split between the 8-county Metro District and the other counties in Minnesota. It is the department’s hope that some definition of regional balance can be agreed to by legislature in time for the awarding of 2022 program funds, which are scheduled to be announced on May 1, 2023.
The submission form for project recommendations will close on November 1, 2022. There is $250 million in program funding available. Any city is eligible to submit a project recommendation via the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s online form. Click HERE to view the submittal form. Click HERE to view detailed program guidance and process information for 2022-2023.
Please contact Mike Lund, Metro Cities Government Relations Specialist at [email protected] or 651-215-4003 with any questions.
Legislative Policy Committees
Metro Cities’ four legislative policy committees held second meetings this week, with each committee hosting speakers on issues of interest and pertinence to the work of the committees. Third and final meetings for 2022 will be held mid-September. Please note that the Metropolitan Agencies Committee completed its work for the year and will not hold a meeting in September.
Information on policy committees and meetings can be found at www.metrocitiesmn.org.
Upcoming Redevelopment Events
Public funding for clean-up and contamination remediation will be available this fall. Below is information on three events to learn about various funding opportunities.
Brownfield Financial Literacy
Minnesota Brownfields will host a Brownfield Financial Literacy forum on September 7 with speakers from federal, state, and local governments to give updates on funding sources available for brownfield redevelopment. Information on funding in the federal infrastructure law and criteria for community-based projects will also be provided.
Wednesday, September 7, 2022
8 am - 1 pm, Barr Engineering, 4300 MarketPointe Dr. Suite 200, Minneapolis 55435
Registration Details
Brownfield Funding for Redevelopment in Minnesota - Webinar
Cities are invited to learn about local public grants and loans that help pay the cost of cleaning up contaminated sites often known as brownfields. More than $8 million in grant funds (and low-cost loans) will be available this fall. This event will have panelists representing Hennepin and Ramsey counties, Metropolitan Council, and Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). Cities, counties, or economic development, housing and redevelopment, and port authorities are eligible to apply. Learn about different financing options available to clean up petroleum contamination, soil contamination, soil vapor contamination, groundwater contamination, asbestos and hazardous materials.
Webinar details
Thursday, September 8, 2022
12:30 – 2:00 pm
Webex link
Event number: 2485 626 0350
Event password: Brownfields2022 (27696343 from phones)
Join by phone:
1-855-282-6330 (toll free)
1-415-655-0003
Phone access code: 2485 626 0350
Brownfield Funding Application – Ask Me Anything
If your city is interested in applying for these county, state or regional brownfield funds, hear detailed guidance on how to fill out local brownfield redevelopment grant applications from panelists representing: Hennepin County, the Metropolitan Council, and DEED.
Webinar details
Tuesday, September 13, 2022
10:30 am – 12 pm
Webex link
Webinar number: 2495 720 2237
Webinar password: BF-App-2022 (23027702 from phones)
Join by phone
1-855-282-6330 United States Toll Free
+1-415-655-0003 United States Toll Free
Access code: 2495 720 2237