Public Works Grants

The Public Works Grant Program, administered by the Department of Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR), provides financial support for infrastructure projects that deliver essential services and promote long-term economic development within the IRRR service area. For Fiscal Year 2026, the program is funded at $9,000,000 through the Taconite Environmental Protection Fund. Applications will be accepted starting July 1, 2025, and will remain open through May 29, 2026, or until all funds are committed, whichever comes first. The program is open to cities, townships, Tribal governments, and governmental entities established under Minnesota Statutes within the IRRR service area. The funding is designed to support public works projects including sewer and water infrastructure, stormwater systems, street and sidewalk improvements, street lighting, public and governmental buildings, dams, and regionally significant recreational facilities such as arenas, parks, campgrounds, and airport buildings. However, projects focused on parking lots or planning and assessment expenditures are not eligible. Each project requires a one-to-one match in funding. In-kind labor or materials cannot be used toward the match requirement. The maximum funding for privately-owned infrastructure or buildings is capped at $145,000, and the total funding an applicant may receive in one fiscal year cannot exceed $1.5 million. For cities near active or recently idled mine pits, the required match may be reduced with demonstrated financial need and prior approval. Notably, architectural and engineering fees exceeding 10% of total project cost are ineligible for reimbursement. All applications must be submitted within nine months of the project’s construction start date. A pre-application must be completed to determine project eligibility through the FLUXX grants portal. Full applications are made available after the pre-application is approved. Applicants must complete project narratives aligned with six evaluation criteria: project impact, leveraged funding, job impact, mining-impacted community, diversity/equity/accessibility, and environmental impact. Each application is scored on a 100-point scale, with individual criteria weighted between 5 and 35 points. Preference is given to projects that serve economically distressed or diverse communities, support job creation or retention, and utilize targeted vendors from underrepresented groups. Municipal applicants must follow Minnesota’s Uniform Municipal Contracting Law, and prevailing wage requirements apply to construction projects exceeding $25,000. All grant recipients are subject to state monitoring and reporting policies, including progress and final reports, certified payroll documentation for applicable projects, and potential on-site monitoring for grants of $50,000 or more. Applications requesting over $50,000 must include additional financial documentation, capacity statements, and certifications of compliance with financial crime statutes. Contact for the program is Chris Ismil at Chris.Ismil@state.mn.us or 218-735-3010. For accessibility inquiries, applicants can contact Jordan Metsa at Jordan.Metsa@state.mn.us or 218-735-3061. Projects with buildings listed in state or national historic registers must obtain a review from the State Historic Preservation Office. All awarded contracts must be fully executed before incurring eligible expenses, and grants exceeding $175,000 must be publicly bid. Acknowledgment signage for IRRR funding may be required on project sites.

Submit a pre-application first to confirm eligibility. Request match preapproval if eligible for reduction.