UMVRDC

UMVRDC Assists Dawson in Securing $1.7 Million in Grant Funds for Industrial Park Improvements Project

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Dawson hosted dignitaries from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) last Thursday, October 4, who were in town for a congratulatory visit upon Dawson’s recent $1.2 million dollar grant award from EDA to help with infrastructure improvements. The improvements will finish the infrastructure in the existing industrial park and will develop another 65 acres that will be available for sale. The ground breaking event took place in the industrial park where City Manager Dave Bovee provided an overview of the improvements to be done in the area.

Celebrating Dawson’s recent grant award with a groundbreaking ceremony at the industrial park, pictured from left to right: Al Juhnke, Senator Franken’s Office; Jacki Anderson, UMVRDC Senior Planner; Toni Merdan, Congressman Collin Peterson’s Office; Matt Erskine, U.S. Department of Commerce Acting Assistant Deputy Secretary; Merlin Ellefson, Dawson Mayor; Pam Lehmann, Executive Director Lac qui Parle County EDA; Dave Bovee, Dawson City Manager; and Dennis Foldenauer, EDA Representative – Minnesota Point of Contact (POC).
Staff from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) were also in attendance at the event to show their support for the project. DEED has approved a $500,000 dollar grant to help with the project. In addition to DEED and EDA funds, the City will contribute over $600,000 to the project as local investment. In total, Dawson has received approximately $1.7 million in grant funds for their $2.3 million dollar industrial park improvement project. The UMVRDC was contracted to write each of the EDA and DEED grants.
 
Patience has paid off as this project has been in the works for over two years. All project partners at the city, state and federal levels have worked diligently to make all the pieces fall into place. Once all the paperwork is signed this winter, the City will be able to start on the project with most construction taking place next spring. The result will be a finished industrial park on the west side and ten new lots on the east side that will be available for purchase by new and expanding businesses. The City has identified an agricultural processing niche and hopes that other agricultural processors will be interested in locating their new or expanding business in the industrial park to complement the existing industries in town.
 
For more information about this project, contact Jacki Anderson at 320-289-1981 ext. 2 or jacki.anderson@umvrdc.org.
EDA and the UMVRDC – working together to bring federal funding opportunities to Region 6W!
Pictured left to right: Pat Lydic, EDA Area Director; Dennis Foldenauer, EDA Representative – Minnesota Point of Contact (POC); Jacki Anderson, UMVRDC Senior Planner; Dawn Hegland, UMVRDC Executive Director; and Matt Erskine, U.S. Department of Commerce Acting Assistant Deputy Secretary.

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