The Met Council has awarded a total of $1.1 million in grants to 40 cities and 1 township in the seven-county metro region to support changes that reduce the amount of water being pumped from underground aquifers and surface waters as the region grows. Cities design their own programs to reduce costs for residents who purchase and install replacement water-efficient products. More on the water efficiency grants.

This week the Met Council awarded Livable Communities grants totaling nearly $1.5 million for assessing and cleaning up contaminated land for redevelopment. The four communities awarded grants are Minneapolis, Saint Paul, St. Louis Park, and White Bear Lake. Altogether the sites have the potential for 340 apartments. most of them affordable to households with lower than median income, and nine townhomes. Learn more about the grants.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development this week announced a $4 million grant to the Met Council to identify and remove barriers to affordable housing production and preservation. We will partner with and support local governments to update their local regulations, policies, and processes related to affordable housing development. More about the competitive grant award.

The Met Council and the Federal Transit Administration have prepared a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) for the METRO Blue Line Extension project.  This document evaluates the potential social, economic, and environmental benefits and impacts that may occur because of the design, construction, and operation of the METRO Blue Line Extension. It also outlines potential measures to avoid or reduce those impacts. Read more about the SDEIS and ways to comment.

In June, the Met Council awarded 10 grants totaling $1.1 million to support cities as they prepare for development or create local policies that influence physical development. Cities awarded grants in this round include Bloomington, Brooklyn Center, Falcon Heights, Minneapolis, Newport, Richfield, and Saint Paul. Learn more the Livable Communities predevelopment and policy grants.