Several projects State Rep. Jeanne Poppe proposed for the Austin area were included in the Capital Investment bill that was rolled out on the first day of session. The city of Austin will share a portion of $26.5 million in Department of Natural Resources dollars set aside for flood hazard mitigation grants, Poppe said this past week. In addition, Cedar River/Turtle Creek watershed districts is targeted to receive $2 million in Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) funds for projects necessary to prevent floodwater from entering Austin. As part of the Higher Education Asset Preservation (HEAPR) dollars, Riverland Community College in Austin is designated to receive $400,000 to replace generators for campus heating and IT infrastructure.

Poppe said that again this year, Nicolville is on the Clean Water Project Priority list to receive funding for their ongoing sewer system issues. She is hopeful this year the project will be ready to move forward.

The House bonding bill targeted the top priorities of higher education, transportation and transit, economic development and clean water and infrastructure. With an overall price tag of just under $1 billion, it could create as many as 10,000 jobs statewide. The bill will next be reconciled with the Senate Capital Investment bill, before moving on to the Governor.