ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced today that it has awarded $1,412,460 in grants to infrastructure projects in northwestern Minnesota.

"Public infrastructure grants like these help foster economic development in communities throughout Minnesota," said DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek. "We're excited these grants will help Fosston and Crookston create and retain good-paying jobs."

Fosston was awarded $960,460 from DEED's Greater Minnesota Business Development Public Infrastructure Grant Program (BDPI). The grant will assist with constructing streets and utilities to expand the town's industrial park. Great Northern Ingredients, a food manufacturing business, has committed to the park. The company estimates it will invest $20 million in the property and initially create 20 jobs. The city estimates another $20 million in private investment from two to three additional businesses will create an additional 78 jobs over five years. The city estimates taxable value of the properties to increase by $5.7 million in five years.

The BDPI grant program supports communities outside the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Under the program, DEED awards 50% of eligible capital costs for the qualifying public infrastructure projects. These projects include streets, wastewater collection and treatment, drinking water, storm sewers and more.

Crookston was awarded $452,000 from DEED's Innovative Business Development Public Infrastructure Program (IBDPI) to assist with constructing streets and utilities to the Ag Innovation Campus (AIC). AIC is a specialty soybean crush facility designed to help advance new crops and new processing equipment. These technologies will focus on creating value for food and feed manufacturers. The facility will research higher-quality specialty soybeans as well as new strains of oil seed crops. AIC will invest $30 million in the facility and will create 40 jobs.

The IBDPI grant program supports communities statewide. Under the program, DEED awards a portion of eligible capital costs for qualifying public infrastructure that is necessary to assist businesses engaged in, or committed to engage in, innovative business practices using proprietary technology that will add value to a product or business process.