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On Monday, March 6, the Minnesota House approved legislation to provide a total of nearly $2 billion in bonding and cash investments to fund infrastructure projects throughout the state. Several projects in Northeast Minnesota received funding as part of the legislation.
State Representative Roger Skraba, R-Ely, serves on the House Capital Investment Committee and fought hard to make sure projects in House District 3A were included in the bills. In total, the funding package includes one bill (House File 669) which features $1.5 billion in state bonds, and another bill (House File 670) which appropriates around $392 million from the general fund.
“This is a good bill for Northeast Minnesota as we worked hard to make sure that the interests and priorities of our area were included in this package,” said Skraba. “We have a responsibility to take care of state-owned assets and to make sure that infrastructure needs are met across our region and the state. While the bill isn’t perfect, I was happy to support it because of its importance for the Northland and for the men and women of labor.”
Northeastern Minnesota projects include:
$3.633 million for classroom and common space renovations at Vermillion Community College in Ely.
$3 million to repair and reconstruct the Nett Lake Dam in Koochiching County.
$11 million for several infrastructure improvements at the Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park.
$4 million for construction of the Gitchi Gami Trail.
$3.5 million for the construction of a safe harbor on Rainy Lake and Rainy River at the Gateway to Voyageurs National Park in Ranier.
$1.294 million for Crane Lake Water and Sanitary District debt retirement to bring the district’s monthly wastewater rates in line with those of similarly situated facilities across the state.
The bill now heads to the Senate. If approved by the Senate, it will head to Gov. Walz’s desk for his signature.
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