Some $235,000 of restricted state funds in the coffers of the St. Peter Economic Development Authority might be loosened up a bit for community projects. The 2016 Minnesota Legislature proposed the more flexible use of these Revolving Loan Funds, which totaled just over $21 million throughout the state.

Greg Bergman, regional director of Central Lakes College's Small Business Development Center, acknowledged the lack of workers can be a difficulty for would-be business owners getting into the game, and existing business people hoping to retain what staff they have. However, in some ways small businesses may have it better than larger corporations when it comes to dealing with the worker shortage.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is pleased to announce that eight statewide projects have been awarded funding through the Good Food Access Program (GFAP). A total of $150,000 in grant funds has been awarded to projects to purchase equipment and make physical improvements.

Early this year affordable housing developers scrambled to plug holes of $1 million or more in their project budgets due to limits put on tax credit allocations to states, Finance & Commerce previously reported. At the time, they warned that 15 percent to 20 percent fewer affordable units would be built.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for Agricultural Growth, Research and Innovation (AGRI) Sustainable Agriculture and Demonstration Grants. Approximately $250,000 is available to fund projects that explore new ways of conserving natural resources, enhancing farm profitability, increasing energy efficiency, and improving life in rural communities.

Since the Downtown Commercial Rehabilitation and Exterior Improvement Program was approved in October 2016 with $300,000 of Small Cities Development Funds, 13 applicants have received loans for 21 addresses in Faribault's Central Business District. The flurry of activity leaves the fund with a balance of only about $33,000.

Winona's Port Authority is starting a process to establish funding support for two area building projects through tax districts. The developers total cost estimate is $7.6 million, of which $800,000 seems eligible for reimbursement by TIF funds.

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