Appropriations Request

Community Project Funding

Representative Morrison has submitted the below funding requests for important community projects in Minnesota's Third Congressional District to the House Appropriations Committee.

WAFTA Site Cleanup, City of Excelsior, MN – $2,315,000 (HUD – Economic Development Initiatives)

The funding would be used by the City of Excelsior to conduct a cleanup of the Western Area Fire Training Academy (WAFTA) site. Fire training activities and previous operations as a Federal Nike Missile launch facility resulted in wide-spread soil and groundwater impacts by lead, petroleum, volatile organic compounds and PFAS. Significant below-grade structures remain that were the missile “silos” and utilities that supported the Nike missile facilities. The project will include environmental investigations and the remediation of impacted soil and groundwater, management of contaminated sediments and water contained within missile silos, demolition of former missile silos, and restoration of the Site with native vegetation and future development. This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it will protect the community from the harmful effects of contaminants (including PFAS) and potential drinking water contamination, the end goal of the project is to create a workforce training center for police, fire, EMS, and other public safety departments, and it is in taxpayers’ best interest for publicly-owned land to be used as efficiently as possible for the benefit of the community.

Signed certification letter stating the project's Federal nexus and that there is no financial interest in the project.

Fire Training Tower Burner Replacement, City of Edina, MN – $600,000 (HUD – Economic Development Initiatives)

The funding would be used by the City of Edina to provide facility upgrades for the South Metro Public Safety Training Facility, which provides state-of-the-art training facilities and services for public safety agencies in the region. This project would allow for capital improvements, including the replacement of fire tower burners, repairs to the kitchen burn

simulator, renovations to the couch and bedroom burn simulations, retrofitting of burner controls, and the replacement of existing smoke generators with a recommended water-based smoke fluid. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because these equipment and facility improvements will help to maintain a safe and effective training environment, which will keep the public safety workforce strong and our communities safe.

Signed certification letter stating the project's Federal nexus and that there is no financial interest in the project.

Brooklyn Park Trunk Highway Watermain Crossings, City of Brooklyn Park, MN – $4,500,000 (HUD – Economic Development Initiatives)

The funding would be used by the City of Brooklyn Park to design and install three watermain crossings. The watermain crossings are located at TH 610 & Jefferson Highway, TH 169 just south of 109th Avenue, and TH 169 just north of TH 610. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the watermain crossings would provide the utility infrastructure necessary to unlock 400 acres of developable land, attracting development, housing, innovation, and economic growth to Brooklyn Park.

Signed certification letter stating the project's Federal nexus and that there is no financial interest in the project.

Highway 169 & County Road 130 Interchange Mobility Project, City of Maple Grove, MN – $7,000,000 (DOT – Highway Infrastructure Projects)

The funding would be used by the City of Maple Grove for the reconstruction of the Highway 169/CR 130 interchange. This will provide improved operations and safety at a vital interchange serving the northwest metropolitan area. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the area currently lacks connected pedestrian and bicycle access, has aged infrastructure including temporary traffic signals, and lacks capacity for the demand in the area.

Signed certification letter stating the project's Federal nexus and that there is no financial interest in the project.

Facility Expansion and Reinvestment, City of Maple Grove, MN – $1,000,000 (HUD – Economic Development Initiatives)

The Pets Under Police Supervision (PUPS) facility has served the cities of Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Champlin, Maple Grove, New Hope, Plymouth, and Robbinsdale for 34 years. Animals that are abandoned or escaped are brought to this facility in an effort to reunite the animal with its owner. The PUPS facility provides secure treatment of these animals, conducting quarantines and safe transfer, ensuring safety at all times. However, the facility can no longer serve the community as it has in the past. PUPS has been operating beyond capacity since the pandemic and the population it has served has increased significantly since the facility first opened. This funding would be used to expand and modernize the facility, doubling its capacity and providing a separate area for employees to eat, work, etc. during the day, a necessity for maintaining proper safety and sanitation standards. This project will provide relief to communities that have been overburdened by the increasing number of abandoned or escaped animals over the past several years, as they've had to find alternative methods and/or locations to house these animals.

Signed certification letter stating the project's Federal nexus and that there is no financial interest in the project.

Main Street (CSAH 150) Reconstruction, City of Rogers, MN – $5,000,000 (DOT – Highway Infrastructure Projects)

The funding would be used by the City of Rogers for full roadway reconstruction and utility replacement on Main Street (CSAH 150) between Territorial Road (CSAH 116) to John Deere Lane. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the roadway is in need of a complete reconstruction and the City will use this opportunity to include pedestrian-oriented safety and streetscaping elements, traffic calming measures, and Safe Routes to School improvements at Rogers Elementary School.

Signed certification letter stating the project's Federal nexus and that there is no financial interest in the project.

Trunk Highway 610 & East River Road Full Access Interchange, City of Coon Rapids, MN – $5,000,000 (DOT – Highway Infrastructure Projects)

The funding will be used by the City of Coon Rapids to complete the existing directional interchange at TH 610 and East River Road (County State Aid Highway CSAH 1) by adding a westbound off-ramp loop and folded eastbound on-ramp with a TH 610 auxiliary lane between East River Road and Coon Rapids Boulevard. There is currently inadequate access to TH 610 for vehicles, including freight and commuter traffic, going to and coming from the east in southern Coon Rapids between TH 10 and the Mississippi River. The lack of access also affects public safety response times within the south portion of Coon Rapids. The current interchange only allows one direction access, it does not allow for eastbound on or westbound off access to/from Highway 610. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the renovations will result in improved access and safety, emergency response, and functionality of the regional and local transportation systems.

Signed certification letter stating the project's Federal nexus and that there is no financial interest in the project.

Highway 47 Corridor and BNSF Railroad Grade Separation, City of Anoka, MN – $7,000,000 (DOT – Highway Infrastructure Projects)

The funding would be used by the City of Anoka to plan, design, and construct improvements on a 1.3-mile stretch of Highway 47 between Highway 10 and Bunker Lake Boulevard in Anoka. This project will include a grade-separating at the Highway 47/BNSF Railway Crossing. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will improve traffic flow and enhance roadway safety along a dangerous stretch of the Highway 47 Corridor.

Signed certification letter stating the project's Federal nexus and that there is no financial interest in the project.

Deephaven Park Improvements, City of Deephaven, MN – $2,920,000 (HUD – Economic Development Initiatives)

The funding would be used by the City of Deephaven to make a variety of improvements at Village Hall Park and Haralson Park. The improvements proposed include a gathering space for the public and other community groups, a wetland protection viewing platform to offer educational and recreational opportunities, an improved connection to the Minnetonka Lake Trail, modern restroom facilities and storm water management, and multi-purpose recreational facilities. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will boost the local and regional economy by attracting more visitors and tourists to the parks and the City of Deephaven.

Signed certification letter stating the project's Federal nexus and that there is no financial interest in the project.

Maria's Voice Domestic Violence Prevention Education Initiative - $300,000

Programmatic and Language Requests

Every year, Congress appropriates funding for the operations of the federal government. Members of Congress have the opportunity to submit their funding and language priorities to the House Appropriations Committee for consideration during the drafting of the appropriations bills.

Requests for FY26 can be submitted here. The submission deadline is Friday, April 11th at 6 pm ET/5 pm CT.