By Logan Wells, News Director | Logan@kymnradio.net
Last week the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) awarded $4.7 million in land redevelopment money for 8 different projects across the state including one here in Northfield. According to a statement sent to KYMN Radio, The Redevelopment Grant Program helps communities with the costs of redeveloping blighted industrial, residential or commercial sites and putting land back into productive use. Since its inception in 1998, the Redevelopment Grant Program has made 262 awards worth more than $87.6 million in grants funding.
DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek stated that “The Redevelopment Grant Program is a great tool communities can use to develop previously unusable land into businesses and housing that support local economic growth and the community. By creating and retaining jobs, this program promotes local workforce development as well as economic growth.”
Locally the grant is being given to the redevelopment of the old Northfield News building which Loon Liquors has purchased to develop into their new serving room. The grant is for removal of asbestos in the building. According to DEED, the project will create 5 new jobs, retain 9 jobs, and increase the tax base of Northfield by $18,200. The grant award was $29,795 and the City of Northfield will also provide matching funds.
Loon Liquors has been looking to move downtown for sometime, first working with the city and U.S. Postal Office to purchase the downtown postal office. However, when the opportunity arose to purchase the Northfield News building owners saw it as an opportunity to create what they call a “destination distillery.”
