Latest news with #DEED
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
State fund helps Oak Park Heights plan for PFAS treatment
A state fund created to help cities that are losing a power plant is helping Oak Park Heights pay for design work on a potential future water treatment facility to remove PFAS from the city's two wells. In 2028, Oak Park Heights will lose its largest taxpayer when Xcel Energy shutters the Allen S. King power plant. The plant, which employs 77 people, provides 27 percent of the city's tax base — or about $1.5 million — in 2024, said Jacob Rife, city administrator. At the same time, the city needs $2.1 million to design a potential new water treatment facility that would be located somewhere near Oak Park Heights City Hall. City officials learned last year that both of the city's drinking water wells tested above state guidelines for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. The current numbers, however, remain within federal guidelines, and no action is required as of yet, Rife said. 'However, we are taking a very proactive approach in that our numbers could change, or the state could make their numbers enforceable, so we want to be ready to go,' he said. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development this week awarded Oak Park Heights a second Community Energy Transition grant, this one for $374,800, to help pay for plans for the facility. Last year, the city received a $440,000 Community Energy Transition grant for a feasibility study and pre-design work for the new treatment facility. This year's grant will be used to evaluate data from the earlier studies and determine 'the process, equipment, treatment plant building design and project cost estimates,' according to DEED. The agency's Energy Transition Office supports cities undergoing or preparing for power-plant closures 'in their efforts to maintain vitality and diversify their economies,' said DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek. 'Communities can face significant uncertainty when a power plant closes. Through these grants, we're partnering with local officials to help ease that transition.' The city is contracting with Stantec for preliminary design work to help answer questions such as where a potential new treatment facility would be sited, size of the facility, costs and construction schedules, Rife said. The grant funds will get the city's design plans to approximately 50 percent for water treatment at Wells 1 and 2, and city officials tentatively expect to get to 50 percent design by summer of 2026, he said. St. Paul Park Police chief is fourth department head in city to resign since January Norwegian group will host Syttende Mai celebration in Stillwater Gammelgården opens for season on May 3; restoration of Pastor's House is planned MN Health Department updates fish consumption guidelines for PFAS Oakdale middle school teacher charged with criminal sexual conduct with minor The city will use $110,000 from its own water funds to pay for the design work, but is still seeking grants and state bonding to cover the rest, Rife said. The city also anticipates receiving funds from a national class-action settlement regarding PFAS in drinking water supplies, Rife said. The chemical company DuPont last year agreed to pay $1.185 billion to public water systems across the U.S. that detect PFAS chemicals in their drinking water supplies. 'I'm not sure of where that number will land,' Rife said. 'We have some ballpark estimates right now, but we just won't know until that comes in, so we're trying to get the majority of the design work to be funded through grants and outside money, so we're being very aggressive in pursuing grants.' Mayor Mary McComber said the city has to be proactive. 'If something happens to one of our wells, and we need to shut it down, well, we only have two wells, and that's it,' she said. 'We need more water supply.'
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Minnesota gains 10,700 jobs in March, largest gain in a year
Minnesota added 10,700 jobs in March, the largest monthly gain in a year, and the state's unemployment rate rose to 3.1%, according to data released Thursday by the state Department of Employment and Economic Development. The state's unemployment rate was up 0.1 percentage point from last month, and compared with 4.2% nationally, DEED said. The rise in unemployment, even though state added jobs, can be attributed to more people entering the workforce. More than 2,700 Minnesotans joined the labor force last month, bring the labor force participation rate to 68.2%. This measures the percentage of Minnesotans either working or actively seeking work, and is used to calculate the headline unemployment rate. Minnesota's overall job growth last month rose 0.4%, four times faster than the national rate of 0.1%; Minnesota's private sector grew twice as fast as the U.S. overall. 'Minnesota's job market has shown impressive resilience in the face of unprecedented uncertainty from the federal government,' DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek said in a statement. 'This month we added jobs at a much faster rate than the nation as a whole as employers continue hiring, and more Minnesotans joined the labor force to look for work.' Eight of 11 state employment supersectors gained jobs in March, with particularly strong growth in construction, up 1,900 jobs, or 1.4%. Government employment was up 1,500 over the month in March, with all growth coming from local and state governments. Federal employment was steady. Recent federal mass layoff announcements are not yet reflected in this data because these estimates are based on employers' reporting of payroll jobs. Minnesota has gained 37,581 jobs over the past year, faster than the national rate of growth. The private sector gained 29,579 jobs — in line with the national average. 'Minnesota has a diverse economy, allowing us to weather shifts in broader macroeconomic trends,' said Angelina Nguyen, director of DEED's Labor Market Information Office. Of alternative measures of unemployment, the broadest, called the U-6, increased to 6.9% in March, up from 6.6% in February and 5.4% a year ago, DEED said. This measure factors in people who have voluntarily left the labor force, such as stay-at-home parents, discouraged workers who have stopped seeking jobs, and part-time or otherwise marginally employed workers. Medical device company to close Maple Grove facility, cut 101 jobs Business People: Dairy Queen appoints Domino's exec Art D'Elia as COO Working Strategies: Using AI to organize or even conduct your job search Mendota Heights med tech company to lay off 124 workers after acquisition Business People: Andersen CEO Chris Galvin named chairman
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Record Mayo Clinic DMC investment seen as other private development drops
Mar. 26—ROCHESTER — Overall private investment related to the Destination Medical Center initiative bounced back in 2024, but non-Mayo Clinic development continued to decline in the DMC district for the sixth year. DMC Corp. Board Chairwoman Pamela Wheelock said she expects Mayo Clinic's investment in its planned $5 billion "Bold. Forward. Unbound. In Rochester" expansion will spur other development in the wake of economic headwinds caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and higher interest rates. "Once you actually start to see this massive, multi-billion dollar physical space start to emerge, that in and of itself (will) compel people to think about this community and the opportunities," she said of the six-year expansion project. "The savvy developer or business owner will get in before you can start to see some of that get out of the ground," she added. With work already started, Mayo Clinic is reporting its DMC-related investment in 2024 rose nearly 32%, from $134 million spent in 2023 to $176 spent last year. The expansion effort began with utility and infrastructure work, as well as the expansion of the Prospect Utility Plant on the north end of Mayo Clinic's downtown campus. "We are really ramping up with a lot of the work we have in process right now," said Doug Holtan, Mayo Clinic's chairman of the Department of Facilities and Support Services. The 2024 Mayo Clinic spending was the organization's largest reported DMC-related investment since 2013, when tracking of work related to the initiative began. Holtan also said 2024 investments included work related to the re-opening of Herman House for mental health services, added work on the Anna-Maria and Stephan Kellen Building dedicated to research and continued work on Mayo Clinic's proton beam therapy expansion project, which is slated to start seeing patients in mid-2027. It was part of an overall increase in private investment from $146.2 million spent in 2023 to $185.5 million spent this year, but non-Mayo Clinic investment dropped by 26%, from $12.5 million in 2023 to slightly less than $9.3 million in 2024. The combined private investment is part of the annual DMC report to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, which was approved Wednesday afternoon by the state's DMC Corp. executive committee, ahead of the document's April 1 deadline. The annual report is a requirement for receiving up to $30 million in state funds each year of the 20-year DMC initiative, which can be used for public projects in the DMC district. While the Mayo Clinic investment included in the DEED report can include any development and upgrades throughout the city, the related investments by other developers and business owners must be within the district boundaries. Since 2015, $1.88 billion in the private DMC investment has been reported, with $548 million outside Mayo Clinic. Work has ranged from restaurant upgrades to the creation of new hotels and apartment buildings, but DMC Economic Development Agency Executive Director Patrick Seeb said the decline following a $135 million peak in 2018 isn't surprising. He said development cycles that see spikes similar to the 2018 investment, followed by $131 million in 2019, often see an "absorption phase," when developers will determine what is needed and whether a particular market is saturated. Citing 14 developers in discussions with local officials to build apartments, hotels and life-science facilities in the DMC district, he said he anticipates future investment will increase. "I think we have every reason to believe when markets stabilize, when interest rates stabilize, there is a lot of pent up demand and eyes are on Rochester," he said. The private spending reported in 2024 points to some anticipated development, with $836,000 of the $9.3 million spent used to clear sites for future development. It included $606,000 tied to demolition of the former Kmart building and $180,000 to demolish homes and other buildings on the block bounded by Sixth and Fifth avenues and Third and Second streets in northwest Rochester. Other non-Mayo Clinic development was focused on business and housing expansion in and surrounding the downtown core. The largest 2024 project reported was $1.9 million spent on renovations leading to the June opening of Ruth's Chris Steak House in the Kahler Grand Hotel, 20 Second Ave. SW. In a close second was $1.8 million reportedly invested in remodeling Residence @ Discovery Square, 511 Third Ave SW, to add 20 first-floor apartments. While development declined in the DMC district, Rochester Deputy City Administrator Cindy Steinhauser said the city has seen its two highest years of citywide commercial investment in 2023 and 2024. "I think that is a direct result of the kind of change that is happening and the work in the DMC district," she said. As growth is seen outside the district, Seeb also predicted private investment in the upcoming years will eclipse reports seen in the first 10 years of the DMC initiative, largely fueled by Mayo Clinic's expansion. He presented a graph that pointed to the potential for more than $400 million being spent this year, with annual increase leading to a nearly $1 billion investment in 2029. While the numbers aren't definite, he said they are estimates based on plans and discussions currently underway. While more growth is expected in the next five years, Steinhauser said the 2024 report to DEED offers a positive reflection on the DMC initiative as economic winds shift. "It's been a good year and a healthy year, in spite of some of the private-sector challenges out there in relation to interest rates and other issues," she said. The continued release in state funds is also tied to reported city support for the initiative, and the Rochester City Council recently confirmed the city contributed nearly $5.8 million in support last year. It brings the total city contribution to $73 million of its expected $128 million 20-year contribution, as the initiative hits the halfway point.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New grant for St. Cloud downtown revitalization
St. Cloud's downtown businesses will get a boost from new state funding, which was announced Thursday. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development awarded a $624,000 grant to the Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation as part of its Main Street Economic Revitalization programming. The award, which provides 30% matching grants up to $750,000, was part of the third and final round of the program's funding. Art Hub: Cream City Tattoo owner launches new resource for artists, businesses St. Cloud's grant will go toward construction, property renovations, designs and other infrastructure improvements, according to a DEED press release about the funding. "Main Street businesses are essential to local and regional economic growth," DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek said in a release. "Through these grants, DEED is helping support economic revitalization that generates excitement among residents, community leaders and businesses around Minnesota." More: Spotlight on rising influencers: Nominate St. Cloud's top 5 under 40 professionals The Main Street Economic Revitalization Grant Program started in 2021 and has provided $80 million in funding across all three rounds, with St. Cloud previously receiving $1.5 million in 2022. Since the program launched, the grants have helped maintain or create more than 8,700 jobs and increased local tax bases by nearly $369 million, DEED said in the release. African food: East African with an American twist: New restaurant serves up fusion food in St. Cloud St. Cloud's newest grant is part of almost $6.2 million awarded to nine organizations throughout the state. Greater Bemidji, Greater Mankato Growth and Little Falls' Initiative Foundation are among the other organizations that received funding. Applications will open soon for St. Cloud businesses to apply for funding from the grant. This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: St. Cloud gets Main Street Economic Revitalization grant
BBC News
24-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Bilingual performance in Dorset to mark Ukraine's 'resilience'
The Dorset Ukrainian community have partnered with a local charity to mark the third anniversary of the war in their home Anastasia Pikalova has been working with DEED, a global education and learning centre in Dorset, to create a special bilingual performance at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sisterhood of Stories shares the real-life stories of Ukrainian women who have endured the hardships of war and displacement. Ms Pikalova said it was important the "very strong, emotional and moving" stories were shared in both languages. Ms Pikalova has lived in the UK for 12 years, but still has family in Ukraine, and said "not knowing what will be three years on is the worst situation to be in"."Of course Ukrainian people here feel safe, they can continue to live and raise their children but unfortunately our brothers, husbands they continue to die at this terrible war," she said when the war started and people were beginning to come over the group of volunteers helped with information, host families, and language aim of the event, to be held later, is to raise awareness of the conflict, mark Ukrainians' resilience and show solidarity with those impacted by is a local charity that supports education as encourages teachers, pupils and community members to develop their understanding of global issues and cultural Bosten-Mammor, from DEED, said she met Anastasia and the community group a few years ago. She said: "Once I found out that they were singers, dancers, and they played instruments and they were all so talented these women. "We thought the best way for them to tell their story was through this multimedia performance." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
