5 Northern MN cities awarded water infrastructure funds

ST. PAUL — Five Northland water infrastructure projects are among the 15 that the Minnesota Public Facility Authority announced Thursday, May 22, would receive $44.2 million in loans and grants.

The MPFA helps cities replace aging infrastructure and improve wastewater and drinking water systems to protect public health and improve water quality. A total of $22.5 million will be sent to the region for projects in Aitkin, Detroit Lakes, Crosby, Eveleth and Tower.

“MPFA funding has profound impact on our communities, improving not only our economy but our environment, as well,” said Matt Varilek, Department of Employment and Economic Development commissioner and MPFA chair, in a news release. “By prioritizing clean and accessible drinking water, we are working to ensure the wellbeing of our communities for years to come.”

Eveleth was awarded a 20-year, $700,000 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund loan to install a water main on Airport Road.

Tower was granted a 30-year, $1.2 million DWSRF loan and a $4.8 million drinking water grant to upgrade its water treatment plant, seal four wells and rehab and demolish pump houses. The Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board also provided $1.2 million for the project. The project is also funded by $3.4 million from federal sources.

Crosby is in the second phase of a rehab project, with $1.8 million from MPFA going toward a sewer main replacement between Main Street and Second Street SW and Third Avenue SW and Third Avenue SE. A clean water grant will fund $1.4 million; the remaining funding comes from a 20-year, $400,000 Clean Water State Revolving Fund loan.

Aitkin is replacing an undersized and aged water tower using a 20-year, $2.3 million DWSRF loan, $400,000 from IRRR and $2.3 million from federal sources.

Detroit Lakes was awarded a 20-year, $9.9 million DWSRF loan to build a 1.5 million-gallon water tower and remove an existing tower.

“Our goal at the MPFA is to provide financing and technical assistance for communities that might not have access to it otherwise, leading to economic growth and prosperity and continued achievement of high standards for clean water and safe drinking water,” said MPFA Executive Director Steve Walter in a news release.

“Providing capital to guarantee secure infrastructure is one way we continue to make those goals a reality.”