The Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) in Minnesota offers the Contamination Cleanup and Investigation and RAP Development Grant Program. This initiative aligns with DEED's mission to support local communities by addressing environmental contamination at developed sites, thereby enabling their redevelopment and more productive use. The program specifically targets complex sites where significant barriers exist for redevelopment due to soil, soil vapor, and groundwater contamination.
The primary beneficiaries of this grant are new parties involved in site redevelopment, rather than long-term operators of contaminated sites. Eligible applicants include cities, counties, federally recognized Tribes, housing and redevelopment authorities (HRAs), economic development authorities (EDAs), and port authorities. The overarching impact goal is to facilitate the transformation of polluted properties into valuable assets, contributing to economic growth and community development across Minnesota.
A key priority for this grant is geographic diversity, with a statutory requirement that at least 35% of the allocated funds must support sites located outside the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, unless insufficient applications are received from those regions. Additionally, to qualify, sites must be slated for improvements within a reasonable timeframe, leading to a substantial increase in the property tax base or serving as an important publicly owned or tax-exempt facility. The program also emphasizes fairness, precision, equity, and consistency in competitive grant awards, with an expectation that grant programs will intentionally identify how they serve diverse populations, especially those experiencing inequities or disparities.
The expected outcomes of the Contamination Cleanup and Investigation and RAP Development Grant Program include the successful investigation and cleanup of contaminated sites, leading to their redevelopment into commercial, industrial, office, multi-family housing, or mixed-use developments. This is anticipated to result in increased property tax bases, creation of publicly owned or tax-exempt facilities, and overall economic revitalization. Approximately $4 million is available for grants, with individual Investigation and RAP Development Grants not exceeding $50,000, ensuring a broad distribution of funds to address contamination challenges statewide.
