Charley Shaw

News November 13, 2013

State aims $54M at affordable housing projects

The Minnesota Housing Finance Agency has announced $54 million in financial support through a variety of sources such as deferred loans, rental assistance and tax credits for affordable housing projects in the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota. The money, which was winnowed down from $170 million in requests, was awarded to nonprofit and private developers, community development agencies and local[...]

News November 8, 2013

For Coleman, much rides on LRT, Ford projects

St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, who on Tuesday coasted to a third term, can look in just about any direction from City Hall and see a major economic development project on the horizon.

News November 6, 2013

Where the state is aiming its incentive cash

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development this year got an infusion of money from state lawmakers for a variety of economic development programs. And since the money became available on July 1, the money has been flowing to companies and local governments for a variety of business expansions.

News November 6, 2013

Key lawmaker skeptical of Nicollet Mall bonding request

Downtown Minneapolis is no stranger to battles at the state Legislature when it comes to major economic development projects. City officials and boosters fought hard at the state Capitol in 2012 to get legislation passed for a new publicly owned stadium for the Minnesota Vikings.

News November 1, 2013

Zelle: State needs long-term transportation solutions

State Transportation Commissioner Charlie Zelle has been traveling the state this summer and fall to discuss the need for increased funding to maintain the transportation system over the long term.

News October 31, 2013

Former GOP Rep. Knoblach sues over Minnesota Senate building

The former Republican House Ways and Means chair has filed a lawsuit alleging the funding for a new Senate building and Capitol parking facility in the 2013 omnibus tax bill is unconstitutional. The building is currently scheduled to break ground in February or March.

News October 30, 2013

NRCC launches Obamacare strike at Walz, Peterson, Nolan

A national Republican group is hammering DFLers in three greater Minnesota congressional districts over the technical failures that have beset the rollout of the federal health insurance exchange.

News October 30, 2013

Execs, officials focus on workforce development

Twin Cities executives and public officials who gathered on Monday night at Greater MSP’s annual meeting touted the pluses of the Twin Cities, but also sounded an alarm about global competition and the need for workforce development.

News October 25, 2013

LCCMR recommendations focus on wildlife studies

The Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) agreed on Wednesday to recommend $28.9 million worth of environmental projects to the state Legislature. The projects range from addressing the decline of bee colonies in the state to investigating the damage to Minnesota loons caused by the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

News October 23, 2013

Frac sand model ordinance draws fire

The implementation of legislation to regulate frac sand mining in southeastern Minnesota has followed a rocky path this fall. During the 2013 legislative session, lawmakers charged the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board (EQB) with devising a model ordinance for local governments to use as a template for processing applications from companies to extract silica sand.

News October 23, 2013

Dayton seeks more input for Southwest LRT plan

For the second time in a week, Gov. Mark Dayton met behind closed doors Tuesday with state and local officials over the stalled plans for the Southwest Light Rail Transit project.

News October 18, 2013

Solar energy rates poised for major makeover

Minnesota lawmakers have been trying for decades to foster so-called distributed generation of electricity, in which small renewable wind and solar energy producers operate as a counterpart to big power plants. But after a jumpstart last legislative session, solar energy policies in Minnesota could get their biggest makeover in 20 years.