In This Issue:
- Redevelopment Grant Applications Due September 1
- Proposals Now Accepted for Main Street Economic Revitalization Program
- Metro Transit Outlines Plans for Future
- Federal Infrastructure Package Passes Senate
- Metro Cities August Legislative Policy Committees
Redevelopment Grant Applications Due September 1
The Brownfields and Redevelopment Unit of DEED is soliciting applications for grant funding for redevelopment projects through the Redevelopment Grant and Demolition Loan Programs. Metro Cities advocated for redevelopment grant funding in the 2021 session. Approximately $2 million is available this round. Call for Applications. The deadline for applications is 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 1, 2021. (This grant round is in lieu of the August 1, 2021 round.)
Proposals must be submitted to the Department of Employment and Economic Development, Economic Development Division, Brownfields and Redevelopment Unit, 1st National Bank Building, 332 Minnesota Street, Suite E200, St. Paul, MN 55101-1351. Three sets of application documents are required for each project (one original on paper, one additional set on paper and a third on a flash drive). They must be submitted by the deadline to be considered for funding.
Proposals Now Accepted for Main Street Economic Revitalization Program
DEED is seeking proposals from qualified responders to establish economic revitalization programs that will provide leveraged grants and guaranteed loans to support economic development and redevelopment projects that deliver the most economic impact in communities with identified needs due to conditions that have arisen since March 15, 2020. The program received an $80 million appropriation in the 2021 legislative session. No more than $40 million is available in the first round. Dates for the second round have not yet been identified but will be before March 1, 2022.
This program, through this Request for Proposals, will make grants to nonprofit partner organizations to fund 30% matching grants up to $750,000 and guaranteed loans up to $2,000,000 to eligible recipients for eligible projects.
Proposals must be received via email by 4:00 p.m. on August 31, 2021. Proposals should be submitted by email to [email protected] in a single PDF file not to exceed 25mb in file size. More information on the program and proposal process can be found on the DEED website.
Main Street Revitalization Program Partner Organizations will be publicly announced in fall of 2021. Each partner organization will be responsible for conducting outreach and soliciting requests for assistance from property owners, businesses and developers.
Metro Transit Outlines Plans for Future
A group of Metro Transit staff members presented members of the Metropolitan Council Transportation Committee with a look at how the provider plans to build a stronger and better system. Identified goals for the future include providing faster and more reliable service that’s easy to use. Staff also highlighted the work Metro Transit will do to grow overall ridership and their commitment to making equity informed decisions.
Much of the presentation revolved rebuilding customer confidence. Metro Transit is continuing to focus on providing clean buses, trains, and transit facilities. The presentation showed plans for replacing bus shelters and improving regular maintenance on shelters and stations. Another key component to rebuilding customer confidence is safety. Metro Transit plans to expand the presence of community service officers (CSO) as well as sworn officers. Other elements of the safety strategy include the use of a real time information center to monitor camera footage and incoming requests, a homeless action team, and leveraging community partnerships. Finally, staff spoke about the tools customers will have at their fingertips to better navigate the system. This includes things like the mobile phone app and website.
Metro Transit outlined their marketing plan going forward through the end of this year which includes a fare promotion this September through October. Staff also foreshadowed a fare simplification analysis for 2022. Click HERE to view the entire presentation.
In a separate presentation during Monday’s meeting, staff outlined the Transportation Division’s 2022 Preliminary Operating Budget. Click HERE to view a recording of this week’s Transportation Committee.
Federal Infrastructure Package Passes Senate
The U.S. Senate passed H.R. 3684, a $1 trillion infrastructure bill, on Tuesday morning with a vote of 69-30. The legislation is based on the bipartisan agreement made last month. Of that amount the bill allocates $110 billion for roads and bridges, $66 billion for passenger and freight rail, $65 billion for broadband, $55 billion for water infrastructure, $39 billion for transit, and $11 billion for road safety. When the deal was struck, the White House provided this document to outline how the legislation will impact Minnesota. Click HERE to view the bill.
H.R. 3684 has since moved to the U.S. House of Representatives. Speaker Pelosi had stated that the house would not take up the infrastructure package until the broader $3.5 trillion budget resolution was passed by the Senate. The Senate passed that budget with a vote of 50-49 early Wednesday morning. Despite calls for an immediate vote on the infrastructure bill, House leadership has said it will consider infrastructure along with the broader budget when members reconvene on August 23. Metro Cities will provide updates as this legislation continues to move through the process.
Metro Cities August Legislative Policy Committees
Metro Cities’ legislative policy committees will meet the week of August 23rd. If you are interested in participating, but have not yet signed up, please contact Jennifer Dorn at [email protected] or see our website at https://www.metrocitiesmn.org/policy-committees. Policy committees will host speakers for the August meetings and members will discuss current policies, as well as suggestions for new policies or modifications to existing language. All meetings will be held virtually.