Infrastructure for an expansion to Joy Global in Virginia, Minnesota, is among the projects in the proposed IRRRB public works budget for FY ’16.
Even though the legislative session may go to the wire tonight at midnight, Iron Range lawmakers — who comprise the statutory Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board — will meet Tuesday morning in St. Paul to hash out the agency’s $33 million FY 2016 budget.
“I am pleased that over half of the proposed budget is dedicated to development projects and programs,” said IRRRB Commissioner Mark Phillips in an agency press release. “This funding reflects our commitment to investing in a better future for northeastern Minnesota.”
That same release said that the agency budget proposal would allocate 51 percent of the agency’s spending to development projects, 29 percent to Giants Ridge and 21 percent for agency operations. As many of you know, the IRRRB is not funded by the state general fund, but rather by taconite taxes that mines pay in lieu of local property taxes for the purpose of developing communities affected by mining.
While we’ll be learning more today and at tomorrow’s meeting about the nature of the potential economic development projects, we do know what the agency is proposing for $1.6 million in public works grants.
Here’s that list:
|
Organization |
Project Description |
Grant Award |
|
City of Cook |
Infrastructure, site work and construction of a new Emergency Services Facility |
$200,000 |
|
City of Cook |
Infrastructure, site work and construction for a new Community Center |
50,000 |
|
City of Ely |
Infrastructure, roads and site work for the expansion of the Ely Business Park |
200,000 |
|
City of Grand Marais |
Water, sewer, utilities extension, and site work for renovation and expansion of the Cook County North Shore Hospital & Care Center |
100,000 |
|
City of Hibbing |
Water, sewer, utilities, roads, and site work for a new 32-unit housing development project |
300,000 |
|
City of Mountain Iron |
Sewer, force main pipe, and a new lift station to service five businesses and new commercial development on Miners Drive |
75,000 |
|
Nashwauk Township |
Infrastructure, site work, and construction for a new town hall |
150,000 |
|
City of Virginia |
Infrastructure and site work for a new development on 9th Street North |
250,000 |
|
City of Virginia |
Phase II of the Joy Global Expansion Project in the Virginia Business Park |
300,000 |
|
|
|
$1,625,000 |
16.5M for Giants Ridge and operating agency. There is really nothing else to say but we need to demand better from the iRRRB ! It has been the same old shell game for DFL cronies for past 35 yrs.
They might accomplish more by using funds to grant blanket business tax relief to all IRRRB covered areas.