Laserfiche WebLink
appropriate bonding and general fund <br />dollars for revolving loan grants to fund <br />the TIA program. Additionally, the <br />Legislature should consider adding park <br />and ride facilities to the list of qualifying <br />transportation modes, as defined in Minn. <br />Stat. § 469.351. Because the majority of <br />the DEED -designated Transit <br />Improvement Areas are currently located <br />in the seven -county metropolitan area, <br />increased funding for this program will <br />not be balanced between greater <br />Minnesota and the metro area. Additional <br />funding for this program should not <br />change the overall balance of state <br />funding between greater Minnesota and <br />the seven -county metropolitan area. <br />LE -28. Business Development <br />Programs <br />Issue: The 2013 Legislature made <br />substantial investments in statewide <br />economic development programs, reversing <br />recent funding shortfalls. Proven programs <br />such as the Minnesota Investment Fund <br />(MIF), the Redevelopment Program, and <br />contaminated site clean-up grants all <br />received substantial funding increases. The <br />2013 Legislature also appropriated $24 <br />million for the newly created Minnesota Job <br />Creation Fund, which replaced the JOB -Z <br />program as a way for local communities and <br />businesses to access state development <br />dollars. <br />Response: On a statewide level Minnesota <br />has recovered from the Great Recession, <br />but the Legislature must recognize that <br />certain communities will need additional <br />time and assistance to fully recover from <br />the impacts of the economic downturn. <br />The League of Minnesota Cities <br />supported the increased funding levels to <br />statewide economic development <br />programs to assist local communities <br />recover and thrive. <br />The League supports the continuation of <br />the Minnesota Job Creation Fund and <br />DEED should solicit input from cities <br />about how best to implement the Fund, <br />and make adjustments to the <br />administration of the program as <br />necessary. <br />LE -29. Land Recycling and <br />Redevelopment <br />Issue: Communities across Minnesota are <br />faced with expensive barriers to re -using <br />property. These roadblocks include <br />deteriorating, obsolete, and vacant <br />structures, and contaminated land. <br />Larger scale redevelopment projects often <br />require the purchase and assembly of <br />multiple, smaller parcels of land that are not <br />suitable for development on their own. <br />Cities and development authorities may <br />need to purchase land over a period of years <br />and hold them for later development, <br />reducing the effectiveness of traditional <br />financing tools that require immediate <br />development. <br />Such barriers pose significant problems for <br />cities seeking to re -use existing <br />infrastructure, maintain and improve <br />property tax base, provide jobs and housing <br />opportunities, and preserve historic <br />structures. Land recycling activities are <br />particularly costly because significant <br />remediation must occur before private -sector <br />interest can be generated. Exacerbating this <br />situation, the land recycling programs <br />administered by the Department of <br />Employment and Economic Development <br />(DEED) and the Metropolitan Council <br />programs continue to be underfunded. <br />Response: In recognition of the unique <br />needs of land recycling projects statewide, <br />the Legislature should increase funding <br />for the statewide redevelopment account. <br />League of Minnesota Cities <br />2016 City Policies Page 64 <br />