The city of Roseau, Minnesota, will be receiving a $2.4 million grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA), according to an announcement by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. The funding will enable the construction of new stormwater infrastructure, with the aim of preventing flooding in the vicinity of local businesses during periods of heavy rainfall.
The grant is aimed at expanding the city’s capacity to manage stormwater and thus reduce economic disruption during floods, especially to manufacturing and other businesses along Highway 89. Such disruptions can include delays in production and transportation of goods. The EDA investment will be matched with an equal amount in local funds. The grantee estimates that this investment will create five new jobs, retain 813 existing positions, and stimulate $13 million in private investment.
Secretary Raimondo indicated that the EDA investment is in line with President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, aimed at bolstering the success and prosperity of families, communities, and businesses across the country. She emphasized that the investment will help Roseau to have the necessary infrastructure to support its growing economy in the aftermath of heavy rain, flooding, and other natural disasters.
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo added that the EDA works closely with communities to aid locally driven disaster recovery and resilience efforts. The project in Roseau is strategic, and its place-based approach will provide critical infrastructure to ensure the local economy continues to thrive despite potential future flooding in northern Minnesota.
The grant will help protect Roseau’s numerous businesses, many of which face the risk of flooding during periods of heavy rain, said Senator Amy Klobuchar. Senator Tina Smith echoed these sentiments, applauding the federal grant for allowing Roseau to update its stormwater infrastructure and protect residents and small businesses from future flooding.
The grant is made possible by regional planning efforts led by the Northwest Regional Development Commission (NWRDC), which is funded by the EDA to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private investment, and create jobs. The project is also funded under the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023, which provided the EDA with $483 million in additional funds for disaster relief and recovery for areas that received a major disaster declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Act.
