The Greater Minnesota Business Development Infrastructure Grant Program (BDPI) announced the award of $204,134 to the City of Bagley. The grant covers a portion of the cost for improving Fourth Street NW and Bagley Avenue as well as the water, sewer, and electrical utilities underneath those streets.
With a total project estimate of nearly $780,000, the BDPI funds offset nearly 25% of the project cost. A major portion of the project’s funding will be paid for by County State Aid funds.
BDPI is a program of Minnesota’s Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). Eligible projects must contribute to the expansion or retention of jobs, increase the tax base, or create or expand economic development. The Bagley project touches on each of these parameters. The roadway and infrastructure improvements will, ultimately, support Sanford HealthCare’s purchase of the Clearwater County Hospital and Clearwater Polk Electric Cooperative’s expansion project.
Sanford HealthCare is taking control of the Clearwater County Hospital facility, retaining 105 employees and $4 million in permanent annual wages for the local economy. The BDPI application included information provided by Sanford that it plans to expand the Bagley facility to include four new medical disciplines, thus adding 12 new positions and increasing payroll and benefits by as much as $750,000. This change in ownership will also result in new tax revenue for the city.
Clearwater Polk Electrical Co-op (CPEC) is a member-owned cooperative electrical association headquartered in Bagley. CPEC had been experiencing poor access to the work areas of its building located on Fourth Street NW. The co-op purchased land outside of the city limits and was considering relocating its operations. The improvement project, however, will address CPEC’s concerns, and, as a result, the co-op is not only staying within Bagley but planning a $275,000 expansion and remodeling project for its Fourth Street NW property, according to information contained in the grant application.
The Fourth Street NW and Bagley Avenue project has been part of Clearwater County’s long range plan for years. County Engineer Dan Sauve, PE, said, “We were excited to work with the City of Bagley to make the project better. By being able to have a cooperative project with the city and receiving the DEED grant, we were able to put together a great project for the Bagley community.”
Mayor Mark Edevold pointed out specific upgrades that will benefit the community. “The BDPI funding will allow us to install LED street lighting along the two streets,” Edevold stated. “This will have the double advantage of lower electric costs and better lighting for pedestrian safety around the elementary school and on the route to the park.”
Citing the county’s willingness to work closely with the city, Edevold pointed out that the utility upgrades were completed at a significant savings to the city and the needs of the surrounding neighborhoods were given careful consideration.
Curt Meyer, civil engineer and vice president of Widseth Smith Nolting, commented, “I’ve worked with the City of Bagley on a number of projects over the years, and I know how much this means for the city. Keeping the co-op and the hospital in town will be an ongoing benefit to the city’s residents and a real boon for the City.” Widseth Smith Nolting assisted the city with its grant application.
Widseth Smith Nolting provides engineering, architecture, land surveying, environmental services, and funding assistance services to communities throughout Minnesota and the upper midwest. Widseth Smith Nolting’s more than 150 employees are located in offices in Bemidji, Alexandria, Baxter/Brainerd, Crookston, Red Wing, and Rochester, Minnesota, and Grand Forks, North Dakota.
Tim Ramerth, PE, recently joined Widseth Smith Nolting. Ramerth is a professional engineer in Minnesota and North Dakota with 18 years of civil engineering experience in the public and private sectors. His expertise includes design of municipal infrastructure and stormwater management plans and reports as well as providing guidance on wetland delineations, mitigation plans, and banking. He also has experience on environmental-related issues including Environmental Assessment Worksheets (EAWs) and Alternative Urban Areawide Reviews (AUARs).
Brady Bussler has joined the marketing department of Widseth Smith Nolting. He has five years of experience in architecture, marketing, and graphic design. Bussler received a master of architecture and bachelor of science in architecture from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. He is also LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Accredited.