Past Community Project Funding Requests

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

Project Sponsor: City Of Blooming Prairie

Requested Amount: $3,908,098

Member Certification Form

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.

Location: 103 2nd Street North, PO Box F, Butterfield, MN 56120

Project Sponsor: City of Butterfield

Requested Amount: $4,000,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The funding would be used to make needed repairs and upgrades to the wastewater treatment facility due to failing and hazardous infrastructure; replacement of the city’s force main and lift station due to unsafe conditions; and replacement of sanitary manholes that are crumbling and cannot be driven over.

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the city’s current wastewater treatment facility has crumbling infrastructure which endangers the city’s wastewater system. Additionally, the city’s lift station that pumps all sewage collected from the city requires entry into a hazardous and unsafe confined space and the system as a whole has created unsafe conditions for the community.

Location: 37622 Goodhue Avenue, PO Box 56, Dennison, MN 55018

Project Sponsor: City of Dennison

Requested Amount: $2,500,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The funding would be used to repair and replace the city’s drinking water distribution system providing clean drinking water to residents and businesses. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds becuase the water system’s age and deterioration has led increased risk of impacting the water quality and access. 

Location: 705 Parkway Avenue, PO Box 159, Eagle Lake, MN 56024

Project Sponsor: City of Eagle Lake

Requested Amount: $5,000,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

Location: 1200 5^th Grant Boulevard W, Wabasha, MN, 55981

Project Sponsor: Gundersen St. Elizabeth’s Hospital 

Requested Amount: $2,500,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The funding would be used to support the hospital’s primary care, rehabilitation, and retail pharmacy expansion project. The expansion will be between 15,000 – 18,000 square feet and offer physical therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, cardiac rehabilitation, and retail pharmacy services.

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because St. Elizabeth’s Hospital plays a critical role in delivering health care to the surrounding rural community. As the only hospital in Wabasha County (population: 21,658), the new rehabilitation and wellness center, together with an expanded outpatient pharmacy, will strengthen St. Elizabeth’s capacity to provide exceptional care and services to patients of all ages. Further, the additional space will allow for the recruitment of more providers and the expansion of new services, strengthening their capacity to provide exceptional care and services to the entire rural service area.

Location: 144 Mckinley Street, Manchester, MN 56007

Project Sponsor: City of Manchester

Requested Amount: $2,080,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The funding would be used to replace a seventy-year-old asbestos watermain, which was projected to last only forty years.

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because, due to the age of the pipe, the citizens of Manchester are living under the constant threat of asbestos leaking into their dringing water, which can lead to severe health effects including but not limited to cancer.

Location: 10 Civic Center Plaza Mankato, MN 56001

Project Sponsor: City of Mankato

Requested Amount: $3,500,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the Mankato Regional Airport has experienced significant growth since 2010 with 101 based aircraft and over 126,000 annual operations. The Mankato Regional Airport is also host to Minnesota State University-Mankato’s aviation program. Given the increased volume of traffic at the airport and current shortages of aviation employees, funding is needed to ensure the airport’s safety requirements and workforce needs are met.

Location: 221 Main Street, Nerstrand, MN 55053

Project Sponsor: City of Nerstrand

Requested Amount: $2,000,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The funding would be leveraged to construct two new wells, a water filtration system, and a new water tower and watermains.

 The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the significant deterioration of Nerstrand’s drinking water infrastructure puts the health and safety of the community at risk. Currently, the City of Nerstrand only has one well, which puts the city in non-compliance with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) who requires two wells. The existing well is 70 years old and nearing the end of its expected service life. In order to meet the requirements for iron, manganese, and PFAS removal, the city will also need to install a source water filtration system.

Location: 250 South Main Street, Pine Island, MN 55963

Project Sponsor: City of Pine Island

Requested Amount: $10,500,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The funding would be used to construct a new, regional wastewater treatment facility, the North Zumbro Sanitary Sewer District Wastewater Facility, which will efficiently serve the needs of four municipalities, including Goodhue, Pine Island, Wanamingo, and Zumbrota, and will improve service and reduce costs. The facility would also serve fee and trust land owned by the Prairie Island Indian Community. Development of this regional wastewater treatment facility will allow for all five of these communities to better manage population and economic growth that is overtaxing current systems. 

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. Further deterioration of their facilities is making it even more difficult to manage ongoing growth and development in these communities.

Location: 101 North Main Ave, Okabena, MN 56161

Project Sponsor: City of Okabena

Requested Amount: $2,500,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The funding would be leveraged to repair, replace, and reconstruct Okabena’s drinking water distribution system to provide the residents and businesses of Okabena with a safe and dependable drinking water system.

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the distribution system has experienced an increased number of watermain failures which elevates the risk for system contamination and interrupts residents’ supply of drinking water.

Location: 151 4th Street, Rochester, MN 55904

Project Sponsor: Olmsted County

Requested Amount: $5,000,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The funding would be used for the construction of interchanged at County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 3 and U.S. Highway 14, and County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 5 and U.S. Highway 14. This project consists of environmental review, preliminary design, and design of two proposed interchanges at the CSAH 3/U.S. Highway 14 intersection and at the CSAH 5/U.S. Highway 14 intersection, which are located in the Byron area of Olmsted County. The proposed interchanges will remove an at-grade railroad crossing and three at-grade intersections at CSAH 3, 10th Avenue, and CSAH 5, including two traffic signals at 10th Avenue and CSAH 5.

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the project will provide significant safety improvements on a regional U.S. Highway.

Location: 141 4th Street, Pemberton, MN 56078

Project Sponsor: City of Pemberton

Requested Amount: $2,500,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The funding would be leveraged for critical repairs to the city’s drinking water storage, well house, and distribution system.

 The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because continued deterioration of the city’s aging water infrastructure, including frequent and increasing watermain breaks and leaks, has increased the potential for contamination, posing a health and safety risk to the community.

Location: 204 4^th Street SE, Rochester, MN 55904

Project Sponsor: City of Rochester

Requested Amount: $5,000,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The funding would be used for the sanitary sewer improvements that are critical to increasing the suitability of property in Rochester for housing and economic development. In particular, water infrastructure upgrades will support future residential, commercial, and industrial growth near the Rochester Airport and along the Zumbro River. Federal investment will help to strengthen the regional and state economy by unlocking capacity for additional housing and economic growth.

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it seeks to ensure Rochester’s sanitary sewer collection system continues to meet the needs of the community by moving wastewater from homes and businesses throughout the community to the Water Reclamation Plant for treatment. The sanitary sewer collection system consists of over 500 miles of City-owned sewer pipe and over 12,000 structures such as lift stations and siphons.

Location: 118 First Avenue NW, P.O. Box 218, Spring Grove, MN 55974

Project Sponsor: City of Spring Grove

Requested Amount: $2,250,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The funding would be used to assist in the construction of a new fire station, enabling the town of Spring Grove 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 the current fire station, first constructed in 1947, has limited the city’s ability to store current equipment or purchase new equipment to service the city and surrounding communities. Moreover, the current location of the fire station on Main Street (State Highway 44) poses safety risks for first responders and the public as the department is required to block highway traffic when entering and exiting the building during a fire call.

Location: 41 2^nd Ave SW, Trimont, MN 56176

Project Sponsor: City of Trimont

Requested Amount: $5,000,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The funding would enable the City of Trimont to replace its existing mechanical wastewater plant with a three-cell wastewater stabilization pond system, along with addressing other critical sanitary sewer collection system and water distribution system needs.

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because Trimont’s residents and businesses face significant challenges due to an outdated mechanical wastewater treatment plant, which poses risks to public health and limits economic growth opportunities. These improvements will provide long-term benefits that extend beyond their municipal boundaries and positively impact the entire region.

Location: 1200 5^th Grant Boulevard W, Wabasha, MN, 55981

Project Sponsor: Gundersen St. Elizabeth’s Hospital 

Requested Amount: $2,500,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The funding would be used to support the hospital’s primary care, rehabilitation, and retail pharmacy expansion project. The expansion will be between 15,000 – 18,000 square feet and offer physical therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, cardiac rehabilitation, and retail pharmacy services.

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because St. Elizabeth’s Hospital plays a critical role in delivering health care to the surrounding rural community. As the only hospital in Wabasha County (population: 21,658), the new rehabilitation and wellness center, together with an expanded outpatient pharmacy, will strengthen St. Elizabeth’s capacity to provide exceptional care and services to patients of all ages. Further, the additional space will allow for the recruitment of more providers and the expansion of new services, strengthening their capacity to provide exceptional care and services to the entire rural service area.

Location: 118 First Avenue NW, P.O. Box 218, Spring Grove, MN 55974

Project Sponsor: City of Spring Grove

Requested Amount: $1,500,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The funding would be used to to assist in the construction of a new fire station

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the current fire station poses safety risks for first responders and the public as the department is required to block highway traffic when entering and exiting the building during a fire call.

Location: 103 2nd Street North, P.O. Box F, Butterfield, MN 56120

Project Sponsor: City of Butterfield

Requested Amount: $6,100,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The funding would be used to support improvements to Butterfield’s wastewater treatment facility. The current wastewater treatement facility has crumbling infrastructure which endangers they city’s wastewater system. 

Location: 680 Byron Main Court NE, Byron, MN 55920

Project Sponsor: City of Byron

Requested Amount: $5,000,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The funding would be used to remove an at-grade intersection with traffic signals, and construct an interchange located at County State Aid Highway 5 and U.S. Highwat 14. This is an apprpriate use of taxpayer funds because the project will provoide significant safety improvements. 

Location: 231 E Main St, Caledonia, MN 55921

Project Sponsor: City of Caledonia

Requested Amount: $960,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The funding would be used for structural repairs, safety improvements, and re-coating the Caledonia water towers. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds becuase a 2019 inspection report recommended recoating to ensure safety compliance for the City. There are also numerous outdated safety features. 

Location: 37622 Goodhue Avenue, PO Box 56, Dennison, MN 55018

Project Sponsor: City of Dennison

Requested Amount: $2,500,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The funding would be used to repair and replace the city’s drinking water distribution system providing clean drinking water to residents and businesses. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds becuase the water system’s age and deterioration has led increased risk of impacting the water quality and access. 

Location: 705 Parkway Avenue, PO Box 159, Eagle Lake, MN 56024

Project Sponsor: City of Eagle Lake

Requested Amount: $5,000,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The funding would be used for the construction of a new water treatment facility to provide clean drinking water to residents and address water quality issues, including high-levels of manganese. 

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds becuase this project seeks to ensure access to safe drinking water for all residents. 

Location: 144 McKinley Street, Manchester, MN 56007

Project Sponsor: City of Manchester

Requested Amount: $2,400,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The funding would be used to replace a 70 year old asbestos watermain, which was only projected to last 40 years. This project is an appropriate useof taxpayer funds because, due to the age of the pipe, the citizens of Manchester are living under constant threat of asbestos leaking into their drinking water. 

Location: 10 Civic Center Plaza, Mankato, MN 56001

Project Sponsor: City of Mankato

Requested Amount: $2,100,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The funding would be used for the Mankato Regional Airport Air Traffic Control Tower in fiscal year 2025. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds becuase the Mankato Regional Airport has experienced signficant growth since 2010. 

Location: 221 Main Street, Nerstrand, MN 55053

Project Sponsor: City of Nerstrand

Requested Amount: $2,500,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The funding would leveraged to construct two new wells, a water filtration system, and a new water tower. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because of the significant deterioration of Nerstrand’s drinking water infrastructure, putting health and safety of the community at risk. 

Location: 101 North Maine Ave, Okabena, MN 56161

Project Sponsor: City of Okabena

Requested Amount: $2,500,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The funding would used to repair, replace, and reconstruct Okabena’s drinking water distribution system to provide residents and businesses with a safe and dependable drinking water system. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the distribution system has experienced an increase number of watermain failures, which elevates the risk for system contamination. 

Location: 151 4th Street, Rochester, MN 55904

Project Sponsor: Olmsted County

Requested Amount: $5,000,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The funding would be used for the construction of an interchange at County State Aid Highway 3 and U.S. Highway 14. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds becuase the project will provide significant safety imporvements on a regional U.S. Highway

Location: 141 4th Street, Pemberton, MN 56078

Project Sponsor: City of Pemberton

Requested Amount: $2,500,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The funding would be used for critical repairs to the city’s drinking water storage, well house, and distribution system. The Project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because continued deterioration of the city’s aging water infrastructure, including frequent and increasing watermain breaks and leaks, has increased the potential for contamination, posing a health risk. 

Location: 118 Fillmore Street, PO Box 67, Peterson, MN 55962

Project Sponsor: City of Peterson

Requested Amount: $600,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The funding would be used to contruct a second well, with a well house, and connect it to existing water mains. This project has an appropriate use of taxpayer funds becuase currently, the City of Peterson has only one well servicing the entire population. With no other water source available, if the well were to fail the entire town would be without water.  

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

Project Sponsor: City of Rochester

Requested Amount: $500,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The funding would be used for bi-directional amplifiers and cellular distributed antenna systems to help improve radio communications in buildings where signals are degraded due to dense construction and other obstacles. 

This is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds becuase it will help the Rochester Police Department to communicate more effectively during emergency school incidents and provide a better on-scene response during emergencies.

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

Project Sponsor: City of Albert Lea

Requested Amount: $5,000,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The funding would be used for major improvements and rehabilitation of the community’s large wastewater treatment facility. The project would consist of construction of a new preliminary treatment building. Engineering designs including but not limited to the rehabilitation of aeration and clarifiers, construction of a new industrial waste and septage receiving station, construction of a new secondary clarifier, construction of a new filter building with ultraviolet disinfection, installation of a 750-kW solar array, and the addition of a phosphorus removal system. 

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the addition of a septage receiving station will prevent the shipping of waste products from local industries 200-300 miles away round trip. This process is intended to address new, state mandated PFAS (Polyfluorinated Substances) regulations that will take effect soon.

Location: 145 Main Street N., Alpha, MN, 56111

Project Sponsor: City of Alpha

Requested Amount: $4,774,103

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification:
This funding would be used for the design and construction of wastewater treatment ponds as well as the design and construction of a wastewater collection facility.

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because their current wastewater system has been deemed an imminent threat to public health and safety due to collapsing septic tanks. The current infrastructure isn’t sustainable from an operations standpoint and continues to need frequent attention.

Location: 145 Main Street N., Alpha, MN, 56111

Project Sponsor: City of Alpha

Requested Amount: $4,112,098

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The funding would be used for the design and construction of a water treatment plant and a water distribution system. 

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because this project will ensure that residents have safe and adequate drinking water.  Alpha is a small, rural community that needs assistance with infrastructure costs to make this project feasible and affordable for its residents. As a result, funding for this infrastructure project will help maintain affordable housing costs, a critical need in rural America, while also supporting businesses in nearby Jackson, MN.  

Location:  100 Downtown Plaza, Fairmont, MN, 56031

Project Sponsor: City of Fairmont

Requested Amount: $5,000,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The funding would be used for replacing the current biosolids dryer with a larger unit able to handle increased loads. 

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it provides for water quality improvements that will benefit both the State of Minnesota and Mississippi River communities, while providing benefits that extend far beyond the City of Fairmont.

Location: 151 4th Street, Rochester, MN 55904

Project Sponsor: Olmsted County

Requested Amount: $5,000,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The funding would be used for construction of an interchange at County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 44 and U.S. Highway 14 and an associated flyover structure at 7th Street NW. Infrastructure elements include four bridge structures, retaining walls, pavement, lighting, and active transportation facilities. 

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the project will provide significant safety improvements on a regional U.S. Highway.

Location: 10 Civic Center Plaza Mankato, MN, 56001

Project Sponsor: City of Mankato

Requested Amount: $5,000,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The funding would be used to reconstruct a new disinfection basin that would allow for new chemical feeds, provide for monitoring and processing equipment consistent with disinfection best practices as outlined in the Ten State Standards, and ensure the reliability of the disinfection infrastructure to enhance the safety of the staff that work in and around these basins every day. 

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it has a large impact on Minnesota’s First Congressional District. The requested funds would ensure safe and sustainable wastewater service delivery throughout seven jurisdictions that serve a combined 65,000 residents and treat approximately twelve million gallons of effluent per day. Additionally, this project contributes to phosphorus trading with the cities of Granite Falls, MN, Walnut Grove, MN, as well as the Lower Sioux Indian Community.

Location: 201 Lake Avenue, Room 100, Fairmont, MN 56031

Project Sponsor: Martin County

Requested Amount: $2,000,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The funding would be used to assist in the construction of a new, 71,000 square foot facility to house co-located county sheriff and city police law enforcement operations, including dispatch and emergency management services. 

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because a 2018 study concluded that a new facility was necessary to address growing safety and security deficiencies created by new state correctional regulations. Martin County is subject to new state regulations that deem their facility inadequate, forcing them to transport women, juvenile, and maximum-security inmates 1-3 hours away to other qualifying facilities. This project would help Martin County meet the state of Minnesota’s regulations and support its law enforcement agencies.

Location: 100 North Broadway New Ulm, MN, 56073

Project Sponsor: City of New Ulm

Requested Amount: $2,500,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The funding would be used for land acquisition, project design and construction of the turf crosswind runway. 

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the crosswind runway is needed to provide the FAA required minimum wind coverage (95%) at the New Ulm Municipal Airport (ULM). Once the crosswind runway alignment is resolved, the city would be able to open additional residential development opportunities around the airport.

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

Project Sponsor: City of Rochester

Requested Amount: $2,000,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The funding would be used for National Environmental Policy Act permitting and construction of a roundabout on 4th Street in Rochester, MN. 

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will improve traffic operations and safety in the city of Rochester.

Location: 541 150th Ave, Luverne, MN, 56156

Project Sponsor:  Rock County Rural Water

Requested Amount:  $4,500,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The funding would be used for construction of a new water tower in Rock County, MN. 

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the Minnesota Department of Health has deemed the county to not have adequate water storage. This project would support future economic growth and ensure safety in Rock County and surrounding communities. 

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

Project Sponsor: City of Red Wing

Requested Amount: $500,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification:

The funding would be used for capital construction. 

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the drinking water reservoir’s roof is failing and needs replacement.  The reservoir provides potable water for Red Wing’s east end neighborhoods and the downtown commercial business district, approximately 5,400 residents.

Location: 508 S. State Street, Waseca, MN 56093

Project Sponsor: City of Waseca

Requested Amount: $3,000,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The funding would be used for the demolition of existing buildings and construction of a 1-million-gallon water tower.  

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the water tower will provide the water storage and pressure head needed to meet current and projected peak demands, greatly enhance fire protection, improve system operations and reliability, and decrease operation and maintenance costs for the city’s inflow system in order to reduce infiltration, improve public health, and provide clean water.

Location: 508 S. State Street, Waseca, MN 56093

Project Sponsor:  City of Waseca

Requested Amount: $3,000,000

Member Certification Form

Use of Funds and Justification: 

The funding would be used for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the city’s inflow and infiltration reduction system. 

The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the City of Waseca suffers from chronic clean water inflow and infiltration (I&I) into its deteriorating sanitary sewer system during prolonged wet periods and large rainfall events. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) recently mandated that Waseca take action to avoid future illicit wastewater discharges or it will be subject to fines and enforcement action. This project would reconstruct and rehabilitate the city’s inflow system to reduce infiltration, improve public health, and provide clean water.