Dakota County Seeks $3M in Grants for Trails, Visitors Centers

Dakota County has applied for $3 million from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development to fund park trails and visitors centers, according to information released this week.

DEED—the state’s main economic development agency—received 90 applications requesting $288.4 million in funding from its Capital Projects Grant Program, according to a press release. About $47.5 million in bond funding was approved during the 2012 legislative session.

Selections for which projects will receive money will be made in the next several weeks, based on criteria such as "number of full-time jobs created or retained, increase in the local tax base, ability to attract private investment, health and safety benefits, and evidence of a strong return on investment and cost-benefit ratio," the release says.

A summary of all applicants, funding requests and proposed projects is available on the DEED website.