ST. PAUL, MN – Lt. Governor Tina Smith today convened a roundtable discussion at St. Cloud State University to highlight the proposed Eastman Hall renovation project. To transform the largely vacant, 85-year-old building into a modern health services facility, Governor Dayton and Lt. Governor Smith have proposed a $12.38 million investment in their Jobs Bill. The new facility will consolidate the student health services office and create a learning environment for students in health related fields to be trained in multiple disciplines – meeting the demand of the professional communities and better preparing students for careers after college.

 

Lt. Governor Smith was joined at the roundtable by Higher Education Commissioner Larry Pogemiller, SCSU President Earl Potter, SCSU Health and Human Services School Dean Dr. Monica Devers, area legislators, members of the business community, and students.

 

“Our Jobs Bill puts Minnesota families and communities first by investing in transportation, housing, and education. The Eastman Hall project will help ensure SCSU students receive high-quality care, while providing health care students opportunities to develop real job skills,” said Lt. Governor Tina Smith. “This project is good for the well-being of our students, and is essential for a well-trained workforce and a thriving economy. I urge the Legislature to pass a significant Jobs Bill this year that invests in the critical infrastructure that Minnesotans depend upon.”

 

In their Jobs Bill, Governor Dayton and Lt. Governor Smith also have proposed an additional $1.3 million to help St. Cloud State University complete deferred maintenance and upgrade out-of-date security systems.

 

In addition to the Eastman Hall project, Governor Dayton and Lt. Governor Smith have included several other central Minnesota area projects in their Jobs Bill:

 

·    St. Cloud Correctional Facility – To help protect public and employee safety, Governor Dayton and Lt. Governor Smith’s Jobs Bill includes $19 million to complete new intake and loading dock at the St. Cloud Correctional Facility. Their proposal also includes $8.6 million to repair the aging perimeter wall that poses a security concern and make other upgrades at the prison.

 

·    St. Cloud National Guard Readiness Center – More than 230 Minnesota National Guard soldiers are assigned to the St. Cloud Readiness Center. An additional 156 are expected to be assigned there within the next year as the facility transitions to become a battalion headquarters. However, the aging facility is inadequate for the National Guard’s needs – having received a “poor” facility ranking in 2014. In response, Governor Dayton and Lt. Governor Smith have proposed a $3.5 million investment to renovate and expand the St. Cloud Readiness Center. These resources also will fund basic maintenance, including updates to heating and cooling system, interior painting, and sewer connection improvements.

 

·    St. Cloud Technical and Community College – Governor Dayton and Lt. Governor Smith’s Jobs Bill would invest $740,000 into basic infrastructure improvements at St. Cloud Technical and Community College to help ensure the campus remains in good condition. The College would use these resources to replace the roof of their health sciences building.

 

·    Rail and Pipeline Safety Training – Every day, trains carrying oil and other hazardous materials pass through Minnesota. Currently, Minnesota has 4,444 rail route miles used by twenty different railroads, which annually move more than one trillion tons of freight through the state. By 2030, rail traffic in Minnesota is projected to grow 25 percent to 40 percent. To better ensure Minnesota first responders are prepared for emergencies, Governor Dayton and Lt. Governor Smith have included a $3.5 million investment in the Jobs Bill for an oil train derailment and pipeline safety training center at Camp Ripley.

 

·    Lake Mille Lacs Walleye Fishery – Lake Mille Lacs is one of Minnesota’s largest and most popular lakes. Mille Lacs walleye population has declined in recent years. In response, Governor Dayton and Lt. Governor Smith have proposed a $3.5 million investment in their Jobs Bill to develop a fisheries management station on the lake. The new facility would allow the Department of Natural Resources to better manage the lake through additional research and improved stocking capacity. 

 

Governor Dayton’s Jobs Bill would invest $1.4 billion in infrastructure projects statewide, creating an estimated 39,900 Minnesota jobs.* This new Jobs Bill would help address many of the state’s critical infrastructure needs, including essential water infrastructure, while strengthening Minnesota’s economy and putting thousands of people to work.

 

The Jobs Bill includes critical infrastructure projects distributed across Minnesota. It balances the needs of the state, with 35 percent of projects in Greater Minnesota, 35 percent in the Twin Cities Area, and 30 percent having impacts statewide. And Governor Dayton’s Jobs Bill is designed to make state resources go further, by leveraging more than $600 million in private, local, and federal dollars.

 

A complete list of the Governor Dayton’s proposed Jobs Bill projects is available online.