The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development recently awarded 26 grants totaling $14.6 million for rehabilitation and infrastructure projects in greater Minnesota.
The funding through the Small Cities Development Program will help pay for rehabilitating housing and commercial buildings and updating public infrastructure in small cities and counties.
"These grants provide an important investment in greater Minnesota communities," said DEED Commissioner Shawntera Hardy in a news release. "This funding will provide access to better housing and improved commercial buildings."
Locally, Ironton received $561,530 for owner-occupied housing rehabilitation, rental housing rehabilitation and commercial building rehabilitation. Mille Lacs County received $401,850 for owner-occupied housing rehabilitation and commercial building rehabilitation in Isle and owner-occupied housing rehabilitation in Wahkon. Grand Rapids received $878,720 for owner-occupied housing rehabilitation and commercial building rehabilitation.
To be eligible for funding, a project must meet one of three objectives: benefit people of low and moderate incomes, eliminate slum and blighted conditions or eliminate an urgent threat to public health or safety.
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Cities and townships with populations under 50,000 and counties with populations under 200,000 are eligible for grants under the program. Projects must be completed within 30 months, depending on size and scope.
