East Metro Recovery

Tracking Economic Recovery and Stimulus Projects in Ramsey, Washington and Dakota counties

Archive for category Dakota County

Financial Help: Displaced Homeowners Housing Grant

Jan 4

Posted by Ramsey in Dakota County, Housing, Ramsey County, Washington County | No Comments

© Andy Dean - Fotolia.com

© Andy Dean - Fotolia.com

The Minnesota Home Ownership Center has launched a  pilot program that may assist families AFTER the foreclosure of their home with up to $2,500 to relocate and secure alternative housing. Funding for this  program has been provided by the Saint Paul Foundation Community Economic Relief Fund.

For now, homeowners being displaced must have owned in Dakota, Ramsey or Washington Counties during this pilot program. Depending on need, and availability of future funding, the program may be expanded.

Funds may be used for:

  • Moving expenses
  • Security deposits
  • Up to half of monthly rent for first three months
  • Utilities (gas, electric, water)

More information is now available here.

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Slide Show From Transportation Secretary’s Visit to Depot

Oct 19

Posted by Ramsey in ARRA, Central Corridor, Dakota County, High Speed Rail, Jobs, Ramsey County, Stimulus, Transit, Union Depot, Washington County | No Comments

Photos from the Secretary of Transportation’s visit to Union Depot on Oct. 15.

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No wasted energy

Sep 28

Posted by Dakota in Dakota County, Energy, Stimulus | No Comments

Dakota County will receive $658,400 of Recovery Act funds as part of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant.

The funds will be used for five different projects within the county to help reduce energy use.

The funds will be used to conduct energy audits of all major county facilities. Dakota County also plans to install LED lighting systems in some county facilities, replace all hot water heaters over five years old with more efficient units and increase insulation in the Judicial Center roof replacement project and Burnhaven Library remodeling project.

The projects are estimated to save the county about 4,000 million BTUs in energy consumed per year—enough electricity to power more than 100 homes for a year according to the Department of Energy—create or retain 32 jobs, and reduce green house gas emissions by more than 400 metric tons.

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Funds helping to keep you safe

Sep 18

Posted by Dakota in Dakota County | No Comments

Recovery Act funds will be used to law enforcement equipment across Dakota County.

Recovery Act funds will be used for law enforcement equipment across Dakota County.

Dakota County and its cities will receive about $314,000 in Recovery Act funds to purchase law enforcement equipment. The grant, from the U.S. Department of Justice, will be used to buy video cameras for squad cars, police cruisers, tasers, computers and other supplies needed to keep our communities safe.

Of the $314,000, about $11,000 will go directly to the county. The rest will be used by city police departments within Dakota County.

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County Road 96 construction gets go-ahead

Aug 27

Posted by Dakota in Dakota County | No Comments

Dakota County received Recovery Act funds to pave and reconstruct County Road 96.

Dakota County received Recovery Act funds to pave and reconstruct County Road 96.

Reconstruction and paving of County Road 96 in Dakota County was originally intended to use County levy dollars, but the County applied for and will receive federal funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

Now approved by the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Dakota County can now go out for bids and move towards awarding a contract for the project. This could happen as early as October.

This project includes:

  • The reconstruction and paving of County Road 96 (320th Street) from County Road 23 to Highway 3 in Greenvale and Waterford Townships. County Road 96 is currently a gravel road.
  • The project includes two railroad crossings. Both locations will have new concrete surface crossings and railroad signals with gates.
  • The existing curve on County Road 23 at County Road 96 will be removed and an intersection will be constructed.
  • A southbound right turn lane on Highway 3 will be constructed at County Road 96.

The funding (based on the construction cost estimate) for the project is:

  • Federal ARRA: $1,890,217
  • Federal – RR signal: $179,859 (this was already programmed prior to securing the ARRA funding)
  • County funds: $366,724
  • Total: $2,436,800

County Road 96 will remain open over the winter as a gravel road. Because a contract will be awarded so late in the season, activities this fall will probably be limited to clearing trees or moving utility lines. The bulk of the construction will take place in 2010.

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Private Journalism Project Tracks ARRA

Aug 7

Posted by Ramsey in ARRA, Dakota County, Ramsey County, Washington County | No Comments

The private, public interest journalism site ProPublica has launched a site for tracking American Recovery and Reinvestment Act spending, breaking down the totals by county and state across the U.S. Click here to see the Ramsey County list. Click here to see the Dakota County list. Click here to see the Washington County list. Click here to see the state of Minnesota list. [A note of caution: The list contains several errors, such as listing funding for the Upper Sioux Community in Western Minnesota and the Grand Portage Reservation in Northern Minnesota under the Ramsey County heading. Ramsey County's list also includes federal ARRA grants to state agencies based in St. Paul].

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Dakota seeks funds to renovate women’s shelter

Jun 11

Posted by Dakota in Dakota County | No Comments

The Dakota County Board approved an application for $460,585 in Community Development Block Grant funding available through the Recovery Act.   

Seven projects are slated to receive funding if the grant application is approved by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The largest being the renovation of Robert Lewis House,  a shelter for battered women and abused children in Eagan. The project is expected to cost $206,000.

Another $75,000 in funding will be used to renovate the Rosemount Family Resource Center and expand its food shelf.  The remaining funds will contribute toward improvements to the Farmington Senior Center, Burnsville Youth Center, Northfield Food Shelf, Eagan Senior Center and South St. Paul Neighbors (a non-profit organization). 

A detailed summary of the proposed uses of these funds is available.

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Recovery funds to aid unemployed in Dakota County

Jun 9

Posted by Dakota in Dakota County | No Comments

The Dakota County Board has approved acceptance of over $1.6 million in Workforce Investment Act Funds offered through the Recovery Act.  The funds will be used to enhance services to dislocated workers, other adult workers and youth. The new funds will allow for additional training and support for existing clients as well as expansion of job program enrollments.

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Leading in Tough Times Webinar Scheduled

May 11

Posted by Art Coulson in Dakota County, Ramsey County, Stimulus, Washington County | No Comments

kids
The National Association of Counties is offering a series of free, “Leading in Tough Times” webinars for county officials to provide information and ideas about coping with and recovering from the recession. The next webinar is scheduled for Thursday, June 11, 1 p.m.–2:15 p.m. Central Time. It will focus on “Securing the Safety Net and Responding to Social Service Needs.” To register, click here. For more information contact Carrie Clingan, (202) 942-4246.
To view past webinars in the NACo archives, click on the links below:
County Budget Strategies during Recession
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant
Implementation of the Stimulus Package: What Counties Need to Know

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East Metro Coalition Backs High Speed Rail

Apr 28

Posted by Ramsey in Dakota County, High Speed Rail, Ramsey County, Transit, Washington County | No Comments

OnBoard Midwest backers gather at Union Depot in St. Paul

OnBoard Midwest backers gather at Union Depot in St. Paul

On Board Midwest is a coalition of people, businesses, elected officials, and organizations who support the proposed high-speed rail project connecting Saint Paul to Chicago. Supporters of the rail line, including business leaders, city, state and county officials from up and down the line, gathered at Union Depot on Monday to celebrate Ramsey County’s purchase of the facility and its plans to renovate the facility into a multimodal transit hub for the region. Supporters also highlighted President Obama’s strong support for high speed rail nationwide and the launch of the OnBoard Midwest Web site and social networking tools available through the site.

The project will be a part of the Midwest Regional Rail System, a 3,000-mile system that will create new passenger rail line connections throughout the Midwest.

The proposed 400-mile Saint Paul-to-Chicago rail line will enter Minnesota at La Crescent and travel north for 150 miles along the Mississippi River through Winona and Red Wing before ending at the Union Depot in Saint Paul. The project will utilize existing tracks between Saint Paul and Chicago and capitalize on substantial investments already committed to the region.

In Saint Paul, the project will include:

  • Revitalization of the historic Union Depot.
  • Extension of light rail to Saint Paul with the Central Corridor.
  • Reconstruction of the Lafayette Bridge.
  • Enhancement of the area’s trail and bike system.

The proposed rail line will help reestablish Saint Paul as a multi-modal transportation hub that will connect with the 1-94, the Red Rock, Rush Line, and Robert Street transit corridors.

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