St. Cloud to Get $41,000 Grant from DEED for Riverboat Lot Assessment and Cleanup

(KNSI) — The City of St. Cloud is receiving $41,433 to assess an area downtown earmarked for potential development.

The money comes from the Contamination Cleanup and Investigation grants, which pay up to 75% of the costs associated with assessments and cleaning of polluted sites. It will be put toward the 0.3-acre Riverboat Lot. Historically occupied by commercial buildings and most recently used as a parking lot, it will be redeveloped into a mixed-use building with 20 to 30 residential units and commercial space on the ground floor. The spot is located at 599 1st Street South. According to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, the project is anticipated to create seven jobs and increase the local tax base by $50,500. The city will provide matching funds.

St. Cloud was one of 11 communities selected to share in nearly $7 million in contamination cleanup grants.

“DEED recognizes the importance of being able to clean up land that might otherwise be deemed inoperative,” said Commissioner Matt Varilek. “That’s why the Contamination Cleanup and Investigation grant program is so great – it allows Minnesota cities to further pursue economic growth in locations where that once might have not been possible.”

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