The Committee on Appropriations recently announced that Community Project Funding (CPF) requests from Members of Congress will be considered by appropriators in the FY 2024 cycle. Each Member of Congress may submit up to 15 projects to the Appropriations Committee for consideration.
The deadline to request community project funding for FY 2024 from the Office of Congressman Dean Phillips has passed.
Community Project Funding requests are for projects that serve Minnesota’s Third District and may only be submitted by not-for-profit institutions to seven House Appropriations Subcommittees. To learn if your specific project is eligible for Community Project Funding eligibility is determined by the House Appropriations Committee (click here for information about eligible accounts and here for guidance on each account). If a project is eligible, our office uses the following criteria in reviewing requests and selecting up to 15 for formal submission:
Is this project located in Minnesota’s Third District? If not, will it serve the residents of Minnesota’s Third District?
If your request does not cover the full cost of the project, does the project stand a reasonable chance of securing the remainder of funds necessary?
Will the project make a broad and positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of the residents of Minnesota’s Third District?
Is the project shovel-ready, i.e., at an advanced enough stage of development for implementation to begin soon?
In addition to the above criteria, community engagement and support is crucial in determining which projects are worthy of federal funding. Only projects with strong, demonstrated community support are considered. There are many ways to demonstrate community support; including but not limited to:
letters of support from elected community leaders (e.g., mayors or other officials);
press articles highlighting the need for the requested Community Project Funding;
support from newspaper editorial boards;
projects listed on State intended use plans, community development plans, or other publicly available planning documents; or
resolutions passed by city councils or boards.
Please note that the Office of Congressman Phillips does not guarantee that the selected project(s) will receive funding. Final decisions regarding which projects receive funding will be made by the House Appropriations Committee, and a funding bill must be signed into law in order for projects to receive money. If you have questions about your CPF request, please call our Washington, D.C. office at (202) 225-2871 or email Trey Webster Trey.Webster@mail.house.gov.
Using the criteria above, Rep. Phillips requested funding for 15 projects across Minnesota's Third District for FY24:
Eden Prairie Public Safety Mobile Command Center, 8080 Mitchell Road, Eden Prairie, MN, 55344 – $1,140,192 (DOJ – COPS Technology and Equipment) This project will enable the Eden Prairie Police Department to purchase a new Mobile Command Center (MCC) to be used to respond to critical events, natural disasters, annual community events, regional emergencies or as requested by city and regional partners. The Department has determined that it would be more cost effective to purchase a new MCC to replace the current one that has been in service since 2002 rather than purchase the upgrades needed to make the current MCC effective. The MCC will not only be used by the Eden Prairie Police Department, but also by neighboring communities in the southwest metro area. Disclosure
Hennepin County Sheriff - Forensic Science Lab Technology Improvements to Combat Gun Violence at 300 South 6th Street, Minneapolis, MN, 55487 – $425,000 (DOJ – Byrne Justice Grants) Over the past three years, gun-related crimes have risen dramatically in Hennepin County. This project will provide Hennepin County with additional technology equipment needed to support their efforts to process firearms-related evidence quickly and accurately. In particular, the project will allow the Hennepin County Sheriff Office – Forensic Science Laboratory (HCSO -FSL) to purchase two light comparison microscopes (LCM) and one 3D virtual comparison microscope (VCM) for the laboratory’s Firearm Section. The proposed instruments will provide enough LCMs to account for the additional forensic firearm scientists hired to meet the growing demand for firearm related forensic testing. The VCM will provide the latest technology in firearm examinations. The VCM produces high-definition scans of the evidence surface topography and optimizes the resulting image so the examiner can make comparisons virtually with highly tuned data, eventually resulting in higher throughput and faster turnaround times. Disclosure
Boerboom Park Expansion Project, 415 Central Ave, Osseo, Minnesota 55369 – $500,000 (THUD – Economic Development Initiatives) This project would enable the City of Osseo to conduct a complete reconstruction and expansion of the City's main downtown park, Boerboom Veterans Memorial Park. The project would expand the park from a half block to a full block and would include: community gathering spaces, ADA-compliant playground equipment, open green space, and a new community bandshell where the City hosts many special events, such as the summer Movies and Music in the Park series, that are well attended by residents and visitors. A dog run area is also included as the increase in housing density in the local downtown area has increased the number of pets who live within walking distance of Boerboom Park. Finally, the Boerboom Park monument would be rehabilitated and prominently featured in the newly renovated park. Disclosure
City of Champlin – 109th Ave Reconstruction Project at 11955 Champlin Drive, Champlin, MN 55316 – $3,500,000 (THUD – Highway Infrastructure Projects) The project would enable the City of Champlin, working with the City of Brooklyn Park, to reconstruct and expand a segment of 109th Ave from Jefferson Highway to Winnetka Ave N. Improvements to this segment of road include: roundabout construction; turn lane, median, traffic signal, ADA, and crosswalk improvements at three intersections; and construction/reconstruction of facilities for people walking, biking, and rolling. Improvements to 109th Ave N, which provides critical access to US 169, are needed to accommodate growing traffic volumes from new freight-dependent businesses in the corridor while maintaining safety for all users. This project would reduce delay and improve mobility (particularly for increasing volumes of freight vehicles from adjacent developments), enhance safety for all users, and address gaps in the nonmotorized transportation network. Disclosure
City of Dayton Water Trail at 12260 South Diamond Lake Road, Dayton, MN 55328 – $3,830,363 (THUD – Economic Development Initiatives) This project would enable the City of Dayton to construct safe, all-inclusive, ADA-compliant river access at two points on the Crow and Mississippi Rivers. The first of these access points is located at Goodin Park. This site would combine a trail head for the West Mississippi regional trail and the Diamond Lake Regional Trail, with a safe ADA accessible landing. In addition, this site would have numerous amenities, including picnic tables, benches, restrooms, bicycle repair station, kiosk, parking, safe access via a tunnel under Dayton River Road, and nature trails. The second site is at Elsie Stephens Park, a 20-acre park that is currently being developed by the City. This park is connected by a tunnel to the adjacent River Hills Community and links directly into a 22-acre park that has been developed by the City with walking trails, pickle ball courts, playground, basketball court, pollinator gardens, and a sledding hill. In total, this project would provide increased accessibility to the Mississippi and Crow Rivers, which are under-utilized amenities, and make them freely available to not only Dayton residents, but visitors from the surrounding areas. Disclosure
Brooklyn Park Youth and Teen Center, 5200 85th Avenue North, Brooklyn Park, MN, 55443 – $4,000,000 (THUD – Economic Development Initiatives) The funding would be used by the City of Brooklyn Park to expand or create new space for youth and teens at the existing Zanewood Center. The new or expanded facility would create space intentionally designed to engage young people using activities of interest including a music studio, electronic gaming, school and homework support, computer lab, arts and wellness programming, life skills development (e.g., cooking, sewing, etc.), possible gym/fitness space, and flexible multi-purpose area. In addition to the program space being created, a portion of the facility will be dedicated to workforce development to help teens and young adults grow their skills and develop the tools they need for business success. The new or expanded facility would ultimately provide a centralized location to provide resources for young people and families experiencing barriers related to food, housing, safety and other systemic barriers to education and employment. Disclosure
City of Corcoran City Park Remaster, 8200 County Road 116, Corcoran, MN 55340 – $3,500,000 (THUD – Economic Development Initiatives) The funding would be used by the City of Corcoran to remaster one of the City’s main parks to provide recreational opportunities for youth in the area. The City acquired additional land for expansion in 2018 and began revisioning the park to account for the significant growth being experienced by the community. This funding would support the completion of phase one of the remaster, which is a $7.383 million project that will be used to construct a new street section, make parking improvements, add additional amenities (e.g., splash pad, multi-purpose building with an attached pavilion and bathroom/changing rooms, pickleball courts, etc.), update amenities that are 25+ years old (e.g., playground, ice rinks, trails, sand volleyball court), and connect City facilities to city sewer and water. The project would enable the City to address the park’s aging infrastructure and support the increased usage and interests of the growing City. Disclosure
Hennepin County Emergency Shelter Program, at the Hennepin County Government Center, 300 South 6th St, Minneapolis, MN 55487– $750,000 (THUD – Economic Development Initiatives) The funding would be used by Hennepin County to meet a critical need for housing designed specifically to help unsheltered single adults and people in emergency shelter. It would be built on three vacant lots at the corner of 28th and provide: capacity for 54 individuals with overflow; a shelter sleeping layout with six-person rooms versus a large, congregate, traditional shelter structure; safe space that does not feel like incarceration to clients; a sustainable facility built with durable materials designed to stay in good condition; and 48 units of flexible housing (Single Room Occupancy, studios, one bedrooms, and an innovative shared suite). All the housing will be supported with on-site case management and other services. The project would help address evictions that are at a high and rising; transition people from growing encampments that pose weather and numerous safety and health concerns; increase much-needed emergency shelter capacity; and, develop a shelter designed to fit the current and future needs of the people Hennepin County serves. Disclosure
Metro Mobility Small Bus Replacement, located at the Metropolitan Council, 390 Roberts Street N, St. Paul, MN 55101 – $5,000,000 (THUD – Transit Infrastructure Grants) This project would enable to Metropolitan Council to replace approximately 40-50 buses in its Metro Mobility fleet. Metro Mobility provides transit service for people with disabilities who are unable to use the regular Metro Transit bus and light rail systems. Metro Mobility provides an important service for people with disabilities to travel to work, shopping, and appointments. As passenger usage returns to pre-pandemic levels, the Council’s aging bus fleet is presenting challenges to meet service needs. By the end of 2023, 88% of the Council’s cutaway bus fleet will be due for replacement on a mileage basis. This funding would support the Council’s efforts to begin replacing its fleet to ensure continued service. Disclosure
Second Harvest Heartland - Roof Replacement and Conversion to Fully Adhered EPDM, Second Harvest Heartland, 7101 Winnetka Avenue North, Brooklyn Park, MN 55428 – $1,400,000 (THUD – Economic Development Initiatives) The funding would be used by Second Harvest Heartland to replace two sections of their roof (approximately 108,940 square feet) and convert it from an “Asphalt Built-Up” roof to a “Fully Adhered EPDM” roofing material. The EPDM roofing material is much lighter in weight, more durable, and longer lasting than its current built up roofing material. The lighter weight roofing structure may allow for future mechanical installations to drive utility efficiencies (i.e., a solar array). The project would fortify Second Harvest Heartland’s current HQ/distribution facility for decades to come, which enables the organization to distribute millions of meals each year into communities statewide along with supporting several other regional food banks in the 5-state area. Disclosure
City of Mound – Water Treatment Improvements – Manganese, City of Mound, 2415 Wilshire Blvd, Mound, MN, 55364 – $4,000,000 (EPA – State and Tribal Assistance Grants) The funding would be used by the City of Mound, Minnesota, to help construct a water treatment facility to provide clean drinking water free from manganese, elevated levels of which have been found in the city’s drinking water supply. Among other things, the funding would be prioritized for use for design engineering as well as new well and upgrades to trunk water mains in the area of the new plant site. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the construction of a new water treatment facility is the sole solution available to the City to provide clean, safe drinking water. Construction of the water treatment facility would benefit the approximately 10,000 residents of Mound, as well as the residents of Spring Park and Minnetrista that are customers of Mound water. Disclosure
Medicine Lake Public Water System, City of Medicine Lake, 10609 South Shore Drive, Medicine Lake, MN, 55441 – $3,000,000 (EPA – State and Tribal Assistance Grants)
The funding would be used by the City of Medicine Lake, Minnesota, to construct a new public water system. The project consists of installing 7400 feet of new 8-inch water main along with 24 fire hydrants and 138 service stubs to enable homes to hook up to the water system. The City worked closely with the City of Plymouth on a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) to allow the City of Medicine Lake to draw water from Plymouth’s public water system. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because City residents currently use private wells for drinking water, but this has become problematic because the wells are aging and draw upon shallow water sources. Water quality and the potential for contamination is a concern for this area. Additionally, residents currently have inadequate fire protection due to the lack of hydrants and public water. Disclosure
Excelsior Drinking Water Treatment Plant, City of Excelsior, 350 Hwy 7, Suite 230, Excelsior, MN, 55331 – $4,080,794 (EPA – State and Tribal Assistance Grants) The funding would be used by the City to rehabilitate its existing water treatment plant, including the full rehabilitation of the existing pressure filters and ion exchange vessels, replacement of chemical feed systems, replacement and/or rehabilitation of piping and valves, replacement of existing controls, and rehabilitation of architectural, electrical, mechanical, and structural aspects of the building. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it would permit the City to provide clean drinking water to its residents as well as to the neighboring communities of Greenwood and Shorewood and a vibrant downtown commercial and recreational center on south Lake Minnetonka. Disclosure
PFAS Treatment System Project, City of the Village of Minnetonka Beach, located at 2945 Westwood Road, P.O. Box 146, Minnetonka Beach, MN, 55361 – $1,720,000 (EPA – State and Tribal Assistance Grants) The funding would be used by the City of the Village of Minnetonka Beach to supplement its current water treatment process with the addition of a facility to house treatment equipment that can remove PFAS from the water supply as a “polishing” treatment step. The proposed facility would be designed to house large 10’ diameter granular activated carbon (GAC) or anion exchange (IX) resin contactors and would match the treatment capacity of the iron and manganese treatment process. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it would allow the City to modify an existing plan to replace its existing 65-year-old plant with numerous deficiencies, which will reduce iron and manganese in drinking water, to also remove PFAS. Disclosure
City of Bloomington New Drinking Water Supply Well, City of Bloomington, 1800 West Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington, MN, 55431 – $1,892,000 (EPA – State and Tribal Assistance Grants) The funding would be used by the City of Bloomington to replace water supply Well #3, one of six drinking water supply wells providing groundwater to the City’s drinking water treatment plant. The condition of Well #3 has deteriorated with corroded casing allowing for contamination and significantly reduced capacity. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because a new water supply well would maintain drinking water system resiliency for the public, enhance environmental sustainability by eliminating the contamination risks associated with a multiaquifer connection, and eliminate demand from the vulnerable Mt. Simon Hinkley aquifer. Disclosure
