Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Senate hearing spotlights Greater Minnesota housing infrastructure grants; committee recommends bond bill
Summary
Lawmakers and Greater Minnesota officials urged more funding for the Greater Minnesota Housing Infrastructure Grant Program, which provides grants for public infrastructure that makes housing projects buildable. The committee recommended a $20 million bond authorization and laid other infrastructure bills over for omnibus negotiation.
Testimony at a Minnesota Senate Housing Committee hearing Tuesday urged expanded state funding for the Greater Minnesota Housing Infrastructure Grant Program, a grant program that pays a portion of public infrastructure costs needed to make housing developments buildable in small and rural cities.
The program, created in the 2023 housing omnibus bill, provides grants to cities and counties to cover public infrastructure such as sewer, water, streets and stormwater needed to open lots to development. Supporters at the hearing said high infrastructure costs are blocking projects across Greater Minnesota and that additional state dollars would allow communities and local partners to build workforce and affordable housing.
“Over the last 3 years we have had over 35 candidates reject jobs solely because they were unable to find a home in the Twin Ports,” said Dante Tomassoni, director of corporate affairs for Cirrus Aircraft, who testified in support of more funding. Tomassoni said Cirrus employs…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
