NYA Among DEED Awards For Contamination Cleanup Projects

St. Paul, Minn. — The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced $1.9 million for seven contamination cleanup and investigation projects statewide and Norwood-Young America is among them.

The grants support the investigation or clean-up of more than 18 acres of contaminated land and are expected to create 71 jobs, add more than $2.3 million to local tax bases and create 492 housing units, including 181 affordable units.

The seven projects are expected to leverage nearly $245 million in private investment.

DEED awarded $330,419 in cleanup funding to the city of Norwood Young America for the 2.18-acre Norwood Flats site tainted with petroleum and other contaminants at 123 Reform St.

Historically used as an agricultural chemical distribution center and truck maintenance facility, the site will be redeveloped into a three-story, 43-unit apartment building.

The project is anticipated to create one job, increase the local tax base by $132,062 and leverage $10 million in private investment. The city, the developer, and other grant sources will provide matching funds.

The grant program helps communities fund the assessment and cleanup of contaminated sites for private redevelopment, covering up to 75% of the costs of removing contamination at approved polluted sites. Remaining costs are covered by cities and counties, other units of local government and private landowners and developers.