DEED awards 51 Small Cities Development Grants

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development has awarded $18.5 million in grants to 51 communities in Greater Minnesota for rehabilitating housing and commercial properties and improving infrastructure. The grants come from the federally funded Small Cities Development Program.

DEED Commissioner Mark Phillips says more than 100 communities across the state will see direct benefits from this latest round of grants.

"This funding will improve the quality of life of people living in Minnesota's small towns and help create jobs in the construction industry," Phillips said.

The grants target cities and townships with populations under 50,000 and counties with populations under 200,000. They will be used to improve existing housing stock for low and moderate income residents; improve sewer and waste water treatment systems; and provide help for commercial revitalization efforts.

The list of recipients includes the city of Fosston, which received $654,056 to rehabilitate 13 owner-occupied homes and nine commercial properties; the city of Wadena, which got $482,962 for the rehabilitation of 17 owner-occupied homes and 14 rental units; and the city of International Falls, which will use its $346,150 award to rehab 14 owner-occupied homes in in International Falls and Littlefork.

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