The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development has announced the city of Faribault will receive a $2 million grant from the Greater Minnesota Business Development Public Infrastructure (BDPI) program for the city’s industrial park project. BDPI is a successful state program that provides grants to Greater Minnesota communities to help encourage growth, create or retain jobs, or build the tax base. It is recognized as one of the Department of Employment and Economic Development’s top programs for return on investment. Senator John Jasinski (R-Faribault) has been a longtime champion of BDPI, and once again chief authored the bill that funded the program this year.

“One of my favorite programs we have is the Business Development Public Infrastructure program,” said Sen. Jasinski. “This program has been incredibly successful over the last decade, with more than 109 grants worth nearly $50 million and more than 14,000 jobs created or retained. It is terrific for the economic growth in communities across Minnesota. I am proud to have authored this bill repeatedly during my time in the Senate, and excited DEED has chosen Faribault for this important grant.”

Eligible projects must be of publicly owned infrastructure related to a development project, including projects that target manufacturing, technology, warehousing and distribution; research and development; innovative business incubator; agricultural processing; or industrial, office, or research park development that would be used by an innovative business. Funds from this program can also be used for land acquisition and preparation, telecommunications, bridges, parking ramps, demolition, hazard remediation, pre-design, construction, equipment, and furnishings.

Businesses in southern Minnesota, including communities like Faribault and Owatonna, have experienced an especially high rate of success using the BDPI program to complete important infrastructure projects. Several communities in Dodge, Rice, Steele, and Waseca Counties have benefitted from this program over the last few years, including:

• Faribault received $844,000 for infrastructure to help Faribault Foods double its plant size.

• Faribault received $1,057,000 for sanitary sewer and water infrastructure to allow expansion of Daikin Applied Manufacturing so they could create and retain hundreds of jobs.

• Claremont received $500,000 for Al-Corn Clean Fuel to modernize and expand.

• Owatonna received $400,000 to help Bushel Boy Farms expand its indoor growing capacity.