Community development projects that will receive federal recovery funding approved
The Minneapolis City Council today approved a list of nine projects and programs to receive more than $3.6 million in Community Development Block Grant Recovery (CDBG-R) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Minneapolis is receiving the funding as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).
As part of ARRA, HUD has $1 billion available for about 1,200 state and local governments to invest in their own community development priorities. Most local governments use this investment to improve key public facilities, stabilize communities and create jobs locally.
The City Council approved the following list of projects to receive the community development funding:
- Shubert Theater - $2 million to rehabilitate the theater, creating 48 permanent full-time jobs and 101 construction jobs. The CDBG-R investment will permit this project to start by fall 2009 by providing the final gap funding to finance the project.
- Lead hazard reduction - $200,000 to make residential units lead safe by replacing windows in the Phillips, Powderhorn, and Central neighborhoods.
- TenKSolar manufacturing facility - $284,047 to assist in the creation of a full-scale solar panel production facility in Minneapolis. Once running, the operation will create 100 jobs by mid-2010 and a total of 360 jobs by 2011.
- Van White Memorial Boulevard roadway and bridge construction - $260,000 to assist in the completion of the boulevard, which will spur investment and connect the Heritage Park area to jobs, schools, and cultural activities. The project is expected to create 300 construction jobs.
- Fire Station 20 reroofing - $190,000 to replace the fire station roof that has reached the end of its useful life. The white roof design will maximize energy savings while providing a long-term roofing solution.
- Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center - $275,000 to finance construction costs for renovation and build-out of an arts education, studio space, and gallery space. The project will create 30 construction jobs and 3.5 permanent jobs.
- Winterization of condemned/boarded properties on the vacant building registration list - $200,000 to winterize vacant properties, which will help the homes retain some value for potential rehabilitation and preserving the City's housing stock.
- Minneapolis Housing Services Advocates - $100,000 to assist low-income residents impacted by the economy, primarily on foreclosure issues and related housing services.
- Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches/Handyworks - $100,000 to assist low-income and vulnerable seniors 65 and older to remain independent in their own homes by providing minor repairs and other home maintenance.
For more information on the projects that will be funded, you can view the staff report on the Community Development Block Grant Recovery funding on the City's website.
Minneapolis City leaders developed the Minneapolis Economic Recovery Strategy to seek federal funding that preserves and creates jobs and makes public investments that translate into a more competitive future for the people of Minneapolis and this entire region. Over the next several months, Minneapolis will apply for federal recovery funding for a variety of critical projects and initiatives – from public safety and infrastructure to technology and building a green economy.
For more information on the Minneapolis Economic Recovery Strategy, visit www.minneapolisrecovery.us.
June 3, 2009
Published Jun. 3, 2009