The Minnesota Public Facilities Authority issued millions of dollars in loans and grants to upgrade or install water infrastructure for communities across the state.
The funds help cities replace aging infrastructure to protect public health and improve water quality.
“The MPFA provides crucial financing and technical assistance to help communities build public infrastructure that protects public health and the environment,” said Jeff Freeman, executive director of the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority. “Investing in the wellbeing of Minnesota’s infrastructure is a catalyst to economic growth and prosperity.”
Nearly half of the $265 million awarded in the first quarter of the fiscal year comes from revolving funds for clean drinking water, supported by federal appropriations, state match dollars and revolving loan payments.
The state provided funding for 27 projects across Minnesota, including these Up North cities:
- Clearbrook, $5.6 million: The project consists of engineering work for construction of a new drinking water treatment plant including treatment for manganese, as well as other improvements to the city’s drinking water infrastructure, including water tower and treatment facility rehabilitation.
- Chisholm, $1.73 million: The project will replace the aging sanitary sewer, manholes, lift station and water main as part of the Fifth Street South rehabilitation project.
- Aurora, $24.85 million: The project will construct a new drinking water treatment plant, water intake and transmission lines to serve the city of Aurora and White Township.
- Hill City, $9.83 million: The project will construct a new drinking water treatment plant, including treatment for iron and manganese and the replacement of well pumps.
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Events this week include InsomniActs6 in Grand Rapids, learn to curl events in Eveleth and Grand Rapids, a classic movie in Bigfork and children’s theatre auditions in Bemidji.
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Minnesota writer Andrea Gilats’ “Radical Endurance: Growing Old in an Age of Longevity” is a companion to growing old.
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Plus, 7 file for an appointment to fill a vacancy on the Brainerd City Council, the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority issued $265M in grants and loans for clean water infrastructure to communities across the state, Northwest Minnesotans can apply for community sustainability support from the University of Minnesota Extension, and Ely will host its inaugural Dark Sky Festival Jan. 10-11.
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In 2025, KAXE will have even more live, locally hosted programs including “Headwaters,” our staff-hosted morning music program with great music curated by people, not algorithms.
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Companies blast decision as “unlawful” and vote to “take all appropriate action to protect our legal rights.”
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Plus: Sanford Health and the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry reach an agreement after a violation of the Women’s Economic Security Act.
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The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry stated in a news release that Sioux Falls-based Sanford Health violated protections for pregnant workers.
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Healthcare systems serving the region shared a wide variety of top names for new babies born last year, including Oliver, Maverick, Lainey and Everly.
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The stopgap funding ranges from the tens of thousands to the hundreds of thousands. Chisholm Ambulance will use the aid to help replace an aging ambulance.
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From ski jumps to strikes, my first year at KAXE took me across Northern Minnesota, covering impactful stories, connecting with communities and loving every moment of rural reporting.