NEW ULM - The first infusion of economic stimulus money will spark a little home makeover for New Ulm's public housing apartments.
Rep. Tim Walz announced Friday that $4,520,113 has been allocated from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to southern Minnesota, the first money to be allocated from the recently-passed American Recover and Reinvestment. The money will be used to modernize and develop public housing.
New Ulm's Economic Development Authority (EDA) is receiving $89,455 as its share of the funds. Assistant City Manager Tom MacAulay said the money will be used for upgrades on the individual apartments in the Broadway Haus Apartments.
"Over the last few years we have been doing upgrades in our public housing," said MacAulay. "We've gotten just about everything done on the outsides of the buildings, and on the public, community spaces. Now we'll be focusing on the units themselves."
MacAulay said the city has 40 units of apartments at Broadway Haus, and 10 units scattered about the city in individual houses and duplexes. The 10 units have been just about completed, said MacAulay, so the focus now is on Broadway Haus, where exterior wall siding is being replaced in a mold abatement project.
The new upgrades will focus on the kitchens and bathrooms, replacing fixtures, flooring and counters as needed.
"This money will really speed that up," said MacAulay.
Some other area cities and counties receiving funds include:
North Mankato Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA), $98,235; St. James HRA, $111,383; St. Peter HRA, $89,461; Fairmont HRA, $177,922; Sleepy Eye HRA, $68,340; Mankato EDA, $401,365, and Blue Earth County EDA, $160,370.