East Metro Recovery

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

Posts Tagged ARRA

Recovery Act has brought $2.6 billion to Minnesotans

Jul 12

Posted by Art Coulson in ARRA, Minnesota | No Comments

From the Minnesota Budget Project, an effort of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits:

Minnesotans have received approximately $2.6 billion in direct federal assistance from February 2009 through May 2010 as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The direct assistance was provided through increased benefits for existing federal programs, through new tax credits and through direct cash payments. The collective impact of this direct assistance has been to put additional income into Minnesotans’ pockets to help struggling working families avoid falling into poverty and to save jobs in our local economy through increased consumer spending. Most economists agree that increased consumer spending is the key to a sustained economic recovery.

Read the whole thing here.

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Looking for a Job?

Jan 5

Posted by Ramsey in Jobs, Minnesota | No Comments

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Tim Cusick - Fotolia.com

Employment Information

MN Workforce Center

Minnesota WorkForce Centers (WFCs) provide the tools, resources and services needed for job search, career planning and training needs.

WorkForce Centers are a collaboration of partners, including the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) and local community agencies. People seeking work, businesses seeking employees, students, and those looking for a first job or returning to the workforce, will find services to meet their needs, offered at no cost. Each WFC houses a Resource Area that operates similarly to a public library.   Find a location

Find a job at Minnesota Works

Available to job seekers and employers, MinnesotaWorks is an internet-based self-service system where member employers and job-seekers can find each other. Membership is encouraged because it allows full access to all the features of the system. There is no cost for membership. Job seeker members may post up to five resumes to be searched by employers. Members may also search for job openings, contact employers by email, and even apply online. Employer members may post job openings to be searched by job candidates and contact them by email.

Other Job-Seeking Options

  • JobConnect: Reaches out with an array of jobs and job leads. Works directly with employers. Offers the opportunity to subscribe to stay abreast of available jobs. Offers Career Readiness tools and workshops. Offers a weekly update called HotJobs that will assist job seekers with staying current on new openings in the job market.
  • Indeed: Indeed.com is a search engine for jobs, allowing job seekers to find jobs posted on thousands of company career sites and job boards.
  • Snag a Job: This is a great source for hourly and part-time jobs. Snag a Job connects job seekers with more than 100,000 active job listings from top employers across the country.
  • Minnesota Council of NonProfits: Where jobseekers can view hundreds of jobs that match their qualifications and employers can post their latest openings. USA Jobs- The official site of the US Federal Government is your one stop source for all Federal jobs and employment information.
  • Statejobs: State of MN jobs listings.

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Ramsey County ARRA Project Update

Oct 13

Posted by Ramsey in ARRA, Ramsey County, Stimulus | No Comments

arra-transparentTo see an up-to-date, department-by-department list of federal stimulus funding applications and awards for Ramsey County, click here.

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Ramsey County ARRA Update

Sep 28

Posted by Ramsey in ARRA, Ramsey County, Stimulus | No Comments

Public Works project in Ramsey County

Public Works project in Ramsey County

Ramsey County departments have been awarded about $13.5 million in stimulus funds by the federal government under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as of Sept. 23.  Other federal stimulus funds have been awarded to schools and municipalities in the county, as well as to businesses and individuals. Local government agencies will be filing their first quarterly ARRA spending reports to the federal government on Oct. 10. Click here for a spreadsheet of grants applied for and awarded to Ramsey County under the ARRA so far.

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Youth Get Work Experience

Sep 24

Posted by Ramsey in ARRA, Jobs, Ramsey County | No Comments

Teens-Working

The ARRA Summer Youth Employment Program, directed by Ramsey County Workforce Solutions, provided 444 youth, ages 14-24, summer jobs ranging from landscape work to daycare assistants.   Five community-based organizations were given $970,000 to make this happen.  There is an additional $750,000 of ARRA stimulus funds to assist  375 low income, at-risk youth  residing in Ramsey County with mentoring, job-readiness and retention skills, work experiences, job shadowing and job placement from April 2009 to March 2010. An additional  $90,000 of ARRA stimulus funds were acquired competitively to provide mentoring, work experiences  and job placement to more than 50 youth transitioning from Boys Totem Town back to their schools and communities. For information about these and other Ramsey County Workforce Solutions employment programs, visit us on the web.

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Big Week for Union Depot

Sep 1

Posted by Ramsey in ARRA, High Speed Rail, OnBoard Midwest, Ramsey County, Union Depot | No Comments

Commissioner Jim McDonough leads a tour of the depot concourse for members of Sen. Amy Klobuchar's staff.

Commissioner Jim McDonough leads a tour of the depot concourse for members of Sen. Amy Klobuchar's staff.

Three significant pieces of news regarding St. Paul’s Union Depot, future home of the East Metro’s multimodal transit hub:

  • From OnBoard Midwest — “The State of Minnesota has submitted a request for $135.8 million in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to renovate Union Depot as a multi-modal transit hub. The Minnesota Department of Transportation worked with the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority to submit an Intercity Passenger Rail grant application for Track 1 capital funding. This is another key milestone in the effort to create a high-speed rail connection between downtown Saint Paul and Chicago. Money from the grant request would be used to renovate the concourses, upgrade the tracks, and prepare the building to be a hub for light rail, passenger rail, high-speed rail, and bus service. Union Depot is considered a Track 1 project to qualify for the funding because it meets key standards:
    - It is a capital project
    - The project is ready to begin work
    - Project level environmental review (NEPA) has been completed
    The decision to submit the funding request was based on recommendations from the Aug. 3 Intercity Passenger Rail Forum meeting. MnDOT is also working to prepare an additional request for a grant for Track 2 projects next month that would include funding for corridor development work for the Milwaukee to Twin Cities portion of the Chicago to Twin Cities corridor. This would involve some additional planning and environmental review. On Board Midwest will continue to keep you updated as things move forward. “
  • Staff members from U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s office toured the depot, including the concourse and recently purchased head house, with Ramsey County Commissioner Jim McDonough, chair of the Regional Rail Authority, and Tim Mayasich, its executive director.
  • Ramsey County and its partner agencies published an Environmental Assessment of the Union Depot project Aug. 24, setting in motion a 45-day public comment period. More information about the Environmental Assessment and how to submit comments is listed below.

    • For more information about the Union Depot project, visit the depot web site or the Regional Rail web site.

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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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Ramsey County Stimulus Update

Aug 25

Posted by Ramsey in ARRA, Ramsey County, Stimulus | No Comments

bridge-550

Ramsey County has updated its list of projects and grant applications filed under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. To read the latest information on stimulus-funded projects in Ramsey County, click here.

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Union Depot Project Moves Forward

Aug 24

Posted by Ramsey in High Speed Rail, Ramsey County, Stimulus, Transit, Union Depot | No Comments

depot-aerial-with-trains

Environmental Assessment Published

In order to secure federal funding for the purchase and renovation of Minnesota’s Union Depot, Ramsey County and its partner agencies were required to perform an environmental assessment of the project. A notice of availability was published in the August 24, 2009 EQB Monitor on behalf of the Federal Highway Administration and Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority in cooperation with the Federal Transit Administration.

The comment period for the Draft EA will remain open from August 24-October 8, 2009. Written comments on the Draft EA will be accepted until the close of business on October 8, 2009.

Comments may be made by:

Mail: Steve Morris, Transit Project Manager, RCRRA, 50 W Kellogg Boulevard, Suite 6560 RCGC-West, St. Paul, MN 55102

Phone: (651) 266-2795 (note: This line will record comments only and is not staffed. To ask questions about the project or the environmental assessment, contact Steve Morris at (651) 266-2784)

Fax: (651) 266-2761

E-mail: Steve Morris

Public Hearings Scheduled

To afford an opportunity for all interested persons, agencies and groups to comment on the EA, two public hearings have been scheduled for September 9, 2009, at the Union Depot Head House, 214 4th St. E., St. Paul, MN 55101:

  • 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
  • 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The public hearings will be open house format with formal presentations. The formal presentations during the afternoon meeting begin at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.; for the evening meeting the formal presentations will be at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. A court reporter will be on hand to record oral comments. Individuals with a disability who need a reasonable accommodation to participate in the public meeting or comment on the Draft EA should contact the RCRRA Project Manager (651-266-2784).

Copies of Environmental Assessment Available for Review

Copies of the EA for the rehabilitation and reuse of Minnesota’s Union Depot as a multi-modal transit hub are available for review online (Click here for the complete assessment, broken into sections. Some of the sections are still large and might require some time to download) or at the following libraries and RCRRA offices during regular business hours:

  • St. Paul Central Library, 90 West Fourth Street, St. Paul, MN, 55102
  • Rondo Community Outreach Library, 461 N. Dale Street, St. Paul, MN, 55103
  • Hamline Midway Library, 1558 West Minnehaha Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55104
  • Merriam Park Library, 1831 Marshall Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55104
  • St. Anthony Park Library, 2245 Como Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55108
  • Dayton’s Bluff Library, 645 East 7th Street, St. Paul, MN, 55106
  • Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority, 50 W Kellogg Boulevard, Suite 6560 RCGC-West, St. Paul, MN 55102
  • Mn/DOT Library, Minnesota Department of Transportation, M.S. 155, Room 175, Transportation Bldg., 395 John Ireland Boulevard, St. Paul, MN, 55103

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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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