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Moving the product Transportation ties created I I I Continued from P. I and repays them with property taxes generated from the development. For example, the developer of a major retail center west of Minneapolis was sessed by the city for the construction of an interchange that improved access to the development. Likewise, a cost-sharing arrangement in the Rochester area involved federal, state, county, cit.;' and private money to make interchange improvements needed for a new development. The de- lveloper in this case contributed approxi- mately $225,000 to the project via city assessment. Transportation funding challenge.s Ihave spawned new relationships be- tween business and government to achieve economic development goals. In an attempt to improve eommtmicatlon, MnDOT has started a "Listen to Busi- ness'' program. "We are re-emphasizing a project where MnDOT district office representatives initiate contact with businesses to identify concerns and problems," according to John Bloom, director of highway and area planning for MnDOT. Mark Anderson, public affairs coor- dinator for MnDOT's District 2 in Bemidji, is responsible for implement- ing the program in his area. "We're working through the transportation co- ordinators or the Regional Develop- ment Commissions to prioritize pro- jects, with business concerns as the strongest criteria," Anderson said. Research being conducted by the University of Minnesota is considering how the state's transportation infra- structure can help stimulate develop- ment in northeastern Minnesota. "We've omq~leted an overall review of thc entire state. Now we intend to stud.;, the situation in northeastern Min- nesota to get a more detailed under- standing of the relationship between transportation investments and the economy," said John Scm, director of forecasting at MnDOT. ~ Researchers are also developing a for- mula to identify the relationship be- tween economic development and trans- portation investments. They hope to develop concrete criteria to assist in prioritizing transportation projects. As the system to unite transportation and economic development evolves, business issues of concern in general manufacturing, ports and waterways and light rail transit will be studied. MINNF. SOTA Department of Energy '"'find E/:onomic Development I I :1 900 American Center 150 East Kellogg Boulevard St. Paul, Minnesota 55101 CITY 5DMIN RAMSEY CITY OF 15153 HOW~HEH RAMSE¥ BL.V£~ NW MN 6430 55~03 Bulk Bate U.S. Postaqe Permit No. 171 St. P,~ul, MN