Grant Applicants

Location: 221 Clark Street East, Albert Lea, MN 56007

Project Sponsor: City of Albert Lea

Requested Amount: $5,000,000

Use of Funds and Justification:

The funding would be used for the planning, design, and construction of improvements for the City’s existing wastewater treatment facility. This includes modification of aeration and nitrification basins, treatment improvements, primary clarifier improvements, upgrades to filter equipment, a new Ultra Violet Treatment system, a new biosolids processing facility, new chemical feed systems, and the addition of septage and off-site wastewater receiving.

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because improvements are needed to comply with proposed limits for phosphorus and to upgrade aging portions of the treatment facility. The current facility is susceptible to flooding and can cause discharge issues. Improvements will extend the useful life of the existing infrastructure and allow the facility to comply with NPDES permitted limits and provide expanded biosolids volume possible with lower phosphorus limits.

Member Certification Form

Location: 244 East Main Street, Amboy, MN 56010

Project Sponsor: City of Amboy

Requested Amount: $2,000,000

Use of Funds and Justification:

The funding would be used for design and construction of water utility systems to improve the drinking water systems through the pre-treatment and treatment process. The city’s drinking water system includes two municipal wells, a water treatment plant, an elevated storage tank, and a distribution system.

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the city has been exceeding the action levels for lead and copper set by the EPA. The treatment system does not include any pretreatment for raw water used in the Reverse Osmosis (OS) or the bypass water required to restore stability of the system. Updated infrastructure improve quality of life for residents and provide environmental sustainability.

Member Certification Form

Location: 138 Hwy. Ave. S., PO Box 68, Blooming Prairie, MN 55917

Project Sponsor: City of Blooming Prairie

Requested Amount: $3,500,000

Use of Funds and Justification:

The funding would be used for soil and groundwater remediation, replacement of current PVC joints and piping with ductile iron piping and reinforced iron joints to prevent contamination from permeating into the water supply and groundwater, and public utility upgrades.

This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will assist the City of Blooming Prairie in addressing severe contamination of soil and groundwater, which is a source of distributed water for the community and poses a serious public health risk, discovered along the corridor during pre-construction testing. Infrastructure upgrades are needed to prevent further contamination from affecting city utilities.

Member Certification Form

Location: 104 North 6^th Street, Brownsville, MN 55919

Project Sponsor: City of Brownsville

Requested Amount: $2,000,000

Use of Funds and Justification:

The funding would be used for repair, replacement, and construction of wastewater infrastructure and stormwater systems, and to ensure reliable services, improved drainage, and safer roadways for residents. Additionally, lift stations have corroded components, resulting in equipment failure and escalating costs. The absence of a formal storm sewer system contributes to flooding and erosion, negatively impacting local infrastructure.

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because these system upgrades will eliminate health and safety risks associated with failing wastewater infrastructure. Investing in stormwater improvements will enhance the city’s resilience to extreme weather events, ensure compliance with environmental regulations, and safeguard public health.

Member Certification Form

Location: 231 East Main Street, Caledonia, MN 55921

Project Sponsor: City of Caledonia

Requested Amount: $1,280,000

Use of Funds and Justification:

The funding would be used for structural repairs and safety improvements of the city’s two water towers. This includes replacement of the interior dry coating to remediate lead-based paint, welding and sealant for joints, insulation replacement, electrical work, drainage improvements, cone floor replacement, and exterior structural improvements.

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because there are numerous outdated worker safety features including catwalks, grates, manways, venting, and more. In addition, Tower 2 was tested and found to have a 15% lead content in the interior dry coating, and the tower suffered ice and water damage in early 2023 resulting from improper drainage. Current infrastructure is deteriorating, and improvements to the towers would provide long-term sustainability.

Member Certification Form

Location: 408 2nd Ave SE, Medford, MN 55049

Project Sponsor: City of Medford Fire Department

Requested Amount: $2,300,000

Use of Funds and Justification:

The funding would be used to assist in the construction of a new fire station, enabling the City of Medford to provide fire and rescue services to its residents, as well as store the needed equipment and vehicles to serve the city and surrounding townships.

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because currently, the City of Medford has an existing fire hall that is both too small and lacks adequate safety measures. This has limited the city’s ability to store current equipment or purchase new equipment to serve the city and surrounding communities.

Member Certification Form

Location: 51 Main Street, Easton, MN 56025

Project Sponsor: City of Easton

Requested Amount: $1,500,000

Use of Funds and Justification:

The funding would be used for demolition of the existing water tower, and for engineering and construction of a new 75,000-gallon tower at the same location.

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because paint sampling has confirmed the presence of lead in the coatings of the structure. The tank has reached the end of its useful life, and the lead paint presents a health and safety concern for residents. Construction of a new tower would provide safe drinking water to those in the community.

Member Certification Form

Location: 130 South Ewing Street, Good Thunder, MN 56037

Project Sponsor: City of Good Thunder

Requested Amount: $2,000,000

Use of Funds and Justification:

The funding would be used to repair, replace, and construct the city’s wastewater infrastructure, stormwater systems, and streets to ensure reliable services, improved drainage, and safer roadways for residents and businesses.

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the city is facing excessive inflow and infiltration into the sanitary sewer collection system, and a deteriorating drinking water system that is failing. There has been an increased frequency of watermain breaks, higher emergency repair costs, more frequent service interruptions, and a risk to public health. Investment would improve disinfection residuals, reduce cross‑connection and stagnation risks, and improve overall drinking-water quality for the community.

Member Certification Form

Location: 201 Broadway Street, PO Box 91, Hanska, MN 56041

Project Sponsor: City of Hanska

Requested Amount: $5,000,000

Use of Funds and Justification:

The funding would be used for the construction of a new 100,000-gallon water tower to replace the city’s existing tower, and to replace aging portions of the city’s water distribution system using open cut construction methods.

This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the existing tower is at the end of its useful life. The new tower will provide reliable water storage capacity and maintain consistent system pressure for residential use and fire protection. Replacement of the existing water tower would modernize critical portions of water infrastructure to ensure safe and reliable water service for the community.

Member Certification Form

Location: 202 Parkway Avenue South, PO Box 333, Lanesboro, MN 55949

Project Sponsor: City of Lanesboro

Requested Amount: $3,851,000

Use of Funds and Justification:

The funding would be used for the replacement of the sanitary sewer collection and water distribution system infrastructure, including associated roadway and surface restoration. The project also includes replacement of the existing failing watermain extension with a new watermain connection.

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because Lanesboro’s water and sewer infrastructure is aging and increasingly at risk of failure. The project would provide efficiency and prevent future water and sewer system failures that could compromise public health, disrupt commercial activity, and burden the community with emergency repair costs.

Member Certification Form

Location:315 10^th Street, PO Box 757, Worthington, MN 56187

Project Sponsor: Nobles County

Requested Amount: $3,000,000

Use of Funds and Justification:

The funding would be used for the construction of a municipal sanitary sewer collection system including a combination of a gravity sewer and a low-pressure sewer. This proposed sanitary sewer system will collect and convey sewage to a central lift station which will then pump wastewater to a wastewater stabilization pond for treatment. The wastewater stabilization pond will have a storage of approximately 3.5 million gallons and will suppress groundwater.

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because residents and businesses in Nobles County face a significant challenge with unpermitted discharge of untreated wastewater into their public waters, which poses risks to public health.

Member Certification Form

Location: 151 4th Street SE, Rochester, MN 55904

Project Sponsor: Olmsted County

Requested Amount: $2,500,000

Use of Funds and Justification:

The funding would be used to construct a roundabout. The intersection improvement project aims to enhance safety and traffic operations at the rural intersection of Trunk Highway (TH) 63 and County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 21 in Farmington Township, Olmsted County. Located immediately north of the intersection is Bridge No. 8830, a triple 10’x8’ cast in place concrete box culvert. Due to the culvert’s proximity to the intersection and its condition, the project will also include full replacement of the existing structure.

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will enhance safety, reduce crash risk, and improve traffic operations for all users of the TH 63 corridor. The project will deliver measurable safety outcomes, extend the lifecycle of key transportation assets, and support the mobility needs of residents, agricultural operations, and regional traffic.

Member Certification Form

Location: 315 West 4th Street, Red Wing, MN, 55066

Project Sponsor: City of Red Wing

Requested Amount: $3,500,000

Use of Funds and Justification:

The funding would be used for construction and rehabilitation of the main lift station and collection system lining improvements. Improvements include replacing aging pumps, screening and grit removal equipment, electrical and controls equipment, structural rehabilitation, and improving flood resilience. Lift station and collection system improvements would address overloads at the wastewater plant, strained capacity, and increased operational costs.

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because failure of this infrastructure eliminates the ability for the treatment plant to receive wastewater, making it the highest-risk component of the entire sewer system. Improvements will enhance the city’s resilience and safeguard public health.

Member Certification Form

Location: 201 4th Street SE, Rochester, MN 55904

Project Sponsor: City of Rochester

Requested Amount: $1,625,000

Use of Funds and Justification:

The funding would be used to support the launch of a real-time operations and intelligence platform, the adoption of a unified data platform, and the expansion of the Drone as First Responder (DFR) program. These technologies will modernize the Rochester Police Department’s operational capabilities and position the department to address violent crime more quickly, with greater coordination and effectiveness.

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the City of Rochester continues to face complex public safety challenges, including violent crime, firearm-related incidents, and rapidly evolving critical events that require immediate, informed response. Officers must often make split-second decisions with limited information, while investigators work across siloed data systems that can slow pattern identification and case development. These challenges strain departmental resources and can increase risk to officers and community members alike.

Member Certification Form

Location: 201 4th Street Southeast, Rochester, MN 55904

Project Sponsor: City of Rochester

Requested Amount: $5,000,000

Use of Funds and Justification:

The funding would be used for installation of larger-diameter water mains along with valves, hydrants, fittings, and service connections to integrate the new infrastructure into the existing distribution system. The city would conduct pressure testing, disinfection, and water quality analysis of newly installed mains.

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the community faces a growing challenge in delivering reliable potable water service due to undersized drinking water infrastructure. The area is constrained by outdated pipe networks and improvements would be necessary to support public health.

Member Certification Form

Location: 129 Hiawatha Dr W, Wabasha, MN 55981

Project Sponsor: City of Wabasha’s EMS Ambulance Station

Requested Amount: $2,950,000

Use of Funds and Justification:

The funding would be used to assist in the construction of a new regional ambulance station to serve Wabasha and the surrounding rural townships and cities, including the City of Kellogg and Greenfield, Pepin, Minneiska, Watopa, Glasgow, Highland Townships.

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the current Wabasha ambulance facility, built in 1991, was designed for an all-volunteer staff, who were based from home, with call volume of about 200 calls per year. Today, it is occupied 24-7 by full-time staff and continual operations with call volume at 5 times that at the time of construction.  The current building has health/safety and security issues that would be addressed through this project.

Member Certification Form

Location: 401 Main Street, Wanamingo, MN 55983

Project Sponsor: City of Wanamingo

Requested Amount: $10,500,000

Use of Funds and Justification:

The funding would be used for a new wastewater treatment facility, specifically, new effluent filters to meet new federal phosphorus limits. New wastewater treatment facilities would allow the municipalities to achieve anticipated future National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit limits.

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the existing treatment facilities in Goodhue, Pine Island, Wanamingo, and Zumbrota are outdated and nearing the end of their useful life cycles – they have high operation and maintenance costs and no viable space to expand. An adequate wastewater treatment capacity will impact the communities’ ability to deal with ongoing population growth.

Member Certification Form

Location: 307 N State St, Waseca, MN 56093

Project Sponsor: Waseca County

Requested Amount: $3,000,000

Use of Funds and Justification:

The funding would be used for modern equipment and services to enhance law enforcement efforts to prevent crime and improve our criminal justice system by outfitting a safe, secure and modern district court system. This would help the county enhance their capabilities to provide victims’ services, drug court, next generation 9-1-1 dispatching, secure detention and transportation, and accessible judicial services.

This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it is a critical investment in public safety, judicial efficiency, and long-term fiscal responsibility for south-central Minnesota. The project will improve coordination between the courts, law enforcement, probation, and support services, reducing duplication and increasing operational efficiency.

Member Certification Form

Location: 508 South State Street, Waseca, MN 56093

Project Sponsor: City of Waseca

Requested Amount: $3,000,000

Use of Funds and Justification:

The funding would be used for engineering and construction of a sanitary sewer main, manhole rehabilitation, trunk sanitary sewer conveyance capacity improvements, and lift station reconstruction.

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the current system suffers from chronic clean water inflow and infiltration into its deteriorating sanitary sewer system during prolonged wet periods and large rainfall events. Additionally, it would eliminate threats to both public health and the local economy caused by sewage discharges, and reduced peak flows conveyed by the sanitary sewer system provides capacity without the risk of surcharging downstream or upstream segments of the system.

Member Certification Form

Location: 20 Timberlake Road, Wilder, MN 56101

Project Sponsor: City of Wilder

Requested Amount: $4,020,000

Use of Funds and Justification:

The funding would be used to design and construct a public sanitary sewer collection system, a lift station, and a force main to provide residents with reliable disposal of wastewater.

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the city’s wastewater disposal is currently handled by individual septic systems. Many of these systems are failing or non-compliant, causing backups in homes and surcharging into yards, and exposing residents to pathogens. Leaking tanks and direct discharge into tile systems threatens the surrounding environment and impedes surface water quality. This project would address health and safety concerns for residents as well as protect ground and surface water.

Member Certification Form