The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced that $21 million in Small Cities Development Program (SCDP) Grants will be disbursed to 31 cities, townships, and counties across Greater Minnesota. One of those cities was Crookston. These funds will be used for commercial and residential property rehabilitations, public facility improvements, and other economic development projects.
“We were really excited to hear the announcement last week that we received $1,198,000; how exciting is that,” says Karie Kirschbaum, Community Development Director for Crookston Community Development and Housing. “We started that project about a year ago,” Kirschbaum met with John Wynne of Northwest Community Action and Jason Carlson from Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, and they contracted John to write the grant on behalf of the city.
Kirschbaum says they went through the whole process, and residents and business owners in Ward 4, which is the downtown area, turned in applications saying they would be interested. “It is first come, first serve, so for those of you who were first in line to submit your letter of interest, we are going to be looking at your application first,” said Kirschbaum. “There is a lot more paperwork to fill out, but we do have your interest.”
If you haven’t already, there is still an opportunity to apply, according to Kirschbaum, “You may decide to keep it or not keep it, but you will have your opportunity, and we’ll take other applicants as well until the funds are depleted.”
Since Ward 4 is primarily downtown, the types of projects that the grant can be used for fall into specific categories. For the downtown commercial buildings, funds of up to $40,000 are available to do whatever you want to do to the envelope of your building. For individual resident’s homes, whether it’s a rental or a residence the funds are up to $25,000. The third way the funds can be used is for apartments above the unit. Up to $12,500 can be used to renovate an apartment. These funds cannot be used to build a new apartment but instead to renovate an existing one.
There is still a chance to apply and possibly get some grant funding for your downtown business or residence/rental. “There is absolutely a chance that somebody will get into the paperwork on it, and they’re like, it’s not worth it, or they’ve moved already, so those types of things can be happening,” explains Kirschbaum. “We will have that meeting today, so over the next few days, you should see some information coming out with a little more detail, and if you are already on the list, over the next month or so, you will be contacted to say hey, are you still interested.”
KROX will have more information on how to apply soon.
DEED Awards for area communities and counties are below.
City of Climax, $546,168.00
Public facility improvements to water distribution lines.
City of Crookston, $1,198,000.00
Rehabilitation of 16 owner-occupied housing units, three mixed-use rental housing units, and 13 commercial buildings.
City of Fertile, $600,000.00
Public facility improvements to water distribution lines.
City of Halstad, $600,000.00
Public facility improvements to water distribution lines.
City of Park Rapids, $1,003,900.00
Rehabilitation of 15 rental housing units, seven mixed-use units, and 18 commercial buildings.
City of Pelican Rapids, $948,750.00
Rehabilitation of 17 owner-occupied housing units and 10 commercial buildings.
Kittson County, $563,500.00
Rehabilitation of 20 owner-occupied housing units.
Marshall County, $575,000.00
Rehabilitation of 20 owner-occupied housing units.
