Dear neighbors,
The old saying that "April showers bring May flowers" rang true for Ramsey County: so many new programs and projects that have been in the works for months, if not years, have blossomed into fruition. From Amtrak's new Borealis train that will connect Saint Paul to Chicago, to millions of dollars approved through the HRA for housing projects, to Purple Line wins, new legislative funding, and even to the groundbreaking of Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi on the East Side, we have had a month of progress leading the way to transformation. I'm also thrilled to report that our housing forum was a huge success!
However, despite these victories for Ramsey County and Minnesota, we in District 6 are still seeking answers about issues that continue to impact us directly. The Minnesota Pollution and Control Agency (MPCA) has reported that Northern Iron and Machine (Northern Iron), a scrap iron foundry located in our district, has shown alarming levels of particulate matter and lead pollution far exceeding federal limitations set by the Environmental Protect Agency's National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
As the MPCA and Northern Iron proceed through mediation and continue public engagement, I urge residents to take advantage of our Healthy Homes program. The county provides free services to children 17 and younger suffering from asthma or asthma symptoms and also conducts free lead checks.
I am a lifelong East Sider and a mother to a child with asthma. While in District 6 our life experiences are vast and diverse, together we face layers of disproportionate impacts that are unseen in other areas in our county. I celebrate the wins that we've won, but I remain committed to advocating for our district to ensure that the county increases awareness about services to administer programs with greater equity in access, time, and resources.
Sincerely,
Mai Chong Xiong
Ramsey County Commissioner (District 6)
 In May, the Board of Commissioners voted on several items that have great potential to impact residents in District 6. As the Chair of the County HRA, I also have major updates regarding affordable housing developments.
Board Action: Approved $4.1 million in ARPA Funds for 2024 Housing Development Projects
The Board approved $4.1 million of obligated ARPA funds for projects to preserve and construct affordable housing. Ramsey County received 27 applications for funds, and our Community and Economic Development team awarded six projects.
All six projects awarded ARPA funds are located in Saint Paul. Those located in District 6 include:
- Dayton's Bluff Acquisition, Thurmond Real Estate Holdings: the proposed project will acquire and rehabilitate six affordable units in the Dayton's Bluff neighborhood, serving low- to moderate-income residents at 30% to 50% AMI. Award is $160,000, with construction expected to start in Summer 2024.
- Magnolia Flats, Outlaw Development: the proposed project will be the construction of a 6-unit new construction multifamily in the Payne-Phalen neighborhood. Two units will be available at 30% AMI and four units at 60% AMI. Award is $1.4 million, layered on top of a previous award of $1.7 million in ARPA funds in 2023. Construction is expected to start in Summer 2024.
Affordability will be monitored through an annual compliance review to ensure that property owners maintain units at 30% AMI.
Note that these ARPA-funded awards are separate from HOME and CBDG funds that are administered through the County HRA.
Board Action: Accepted over $9 million for Therapeutic Youth Treatment Homes and Violence Prevention with Wrap Around Services
We approved two grant agreements with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety that will bring in over $9 million to support youth and violence prevention. These grants were obtained by a partnership between Health and Wellness, Safety and Justice, the Ramsey County Attorney's Office, and the Sheriff's Office.
The first grant, in the amount of $4.6 million, will go towards therapeutic youth treatment homes. Ramsey County will establish 7 intensive trauma-informed residential treatment homes that are culturally specific, community based, and able to be secured.
The second grant, in the amount of $4.7 million, will go towards developing and enhancing existing community-based organizational support through violence prevention and community wellness grants. The funding will be sub-granted out to organizations that support families of young persons going through the juvenile system, preventing incarceration, or establishing employment for systems-involved youth.
Board Action: Accepted $675k for Community Crime Prevention
We accepted $675,000 from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety for community-based programming for crime prevention for communities most impacted by violence and for crime prevention services. This grant was obtained and will be administered by the Sheriff's Office to fund the Peace Program and the Violence Interrupter Program. These programs will provide mentorship and leadership skills by diverse ambassadors and CSOs that offer community the options of navigating social, emotional, and economic support by someone who understands. Social emotional meetings creating a space for all stakeholders to communicate utilizing restorative processes that include prep work, circle meetings, norms, and preferred outcomes/agreements.
Board Action: Approved Public Works Construction Quarterly Report
The Board voted in approval of the Public Works Department's quarterly report. District 6 is expected to see new developments with the incoming Purple Line and Gold Line, plus additional renovations to White Bear Avenue and Larpenteur Avenue. Note that the Ramsey County TIP program does not include other transportation projects that may be underway by other governmental agencies.
Please review the 2024-2028 Transportation Improvement Plan to see the breakdown of costs and anticipated projects.
HRA: Approved $4.6 million in HRA funds, $1.2 million of Community Development Block Grants and $500,000 of HOME Investment Partnerships Act Funds
Ramsey County is in dire need of more affordable housing available for households with incomes less than 30% of the area median income (AMI). In Ramsey, we also have one of the largest homeownership gaps between White residents and Black residents in the nation. As Chair of the County HRA, I was delighted to vote and pass several HRA items that will be directly used for the construction, preservation, and ownership of homes.
The 2024 Housing Development Solicitation is a competitive process that grants awards to projects that meet requirements. I voted in favor of six recommended projects at The Heights, Amber Flats, Gladstone Crossing, Little Canada Senior housing, and Torre de San Miguel. These projects will amount to a total of $4.6 million. Read more about The Heights below.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding are federal funds designated to boost economic vitality and housing for low- to moderate-income people living in urban counties. In Ramsey County, these funds are used for suburban home rehabilitation and public services. I approved $1.2 million in CDBG funding for housing rehabilitation, such as Hearts and Hammers, Minnesota One Stop, and Slipstream Inc., as well as for public services, such as the HOME Tenant Line, HousingLink, Open Arms of Minnesota, White Bear Area Food Shelf, Keystone Community Services, and our Housing Stability department.
HOME Investment Partnerships Act Funds are strict-use funds that require units to be 100% affordable. The federal restrictions prohibit discrimination by direct providers of housing, like landlords and developers, that make housing unavailable to people based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status or disability. I approved $500,000 in HOME funds for the development of affordable housing in suburban Ramsey County, including a development in Little Canada that will create 106 units of affordable senior rental housing.
HRA: Approved $2.3 million in Wealth Generation Initiatives, including First Home Down Payment Assistance Program
Homeownership continues to be a crucial means for individuals and families to build wealth and transfer it to future generations. In Ramsey County, residents, especially those from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds, face obstacles to affordable homeownership. These barriers include high home prices, elevated interest rates, and disparities in income, employment, and access to capital.
With that knowledge, I approved $2.3 million of HRA levy funds to be used towards wealth creation initiatives, including the FirstHome down payment assistance program. Since December 2023, we have approved 21 loans with:
- 81% of borrowers being racially or ethnically diverse
- 90% of borrowers qualifying as first-generation buyers
- An average homebuyer income at 71% of the area median income
 In May, we held our first housing forum in partnership with Minnesota Housing, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, the City of Saint Paul's Planning and Economic Development team, and Ramsey County's Community and Economic Development team. This event was co-hosted by State Senator Foung Hawj, State Representative Liz Lee, State Representative Jay Xiong, Saint Paul City Council Member Cheniqua Johnson, and Saint Paul City Council Member Nelsie Yang.
The housing forum provided a wealth of information to renters seeking to transition into homeownership, the majority of whom were from the local East Side neighborhoods. Our speakers discussed first-time homebuyer programs (some of which can be layered), down payment assistance, financial planning support, and more.
We also discussed the new $1 billion allocation by the state legislature that will reduce disparities in housing and homeownership. The bill includes $200 million in down payment assistance in which $150 million will be used for first-generation homebuyers.
We held the event at Cups N' Cheers, where the room was packed to the brim with individuals interested in learning more. If you missed this event but would like to learn more, please contact Winona Yang at winona.yang@co.ramsey.mn.us.
Through the County HRA, I approved $1.4 million in funds to invest in The Heights. JO Companies, which will develop a multifamily building that will include between 110 to 230 units, was awarded $1 million. Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, which will develop over 150 affordable homeownership units, was awarded $400,000.
Residents may recall that in March 2024, the Minnesota Climate Innovation Finance Authority awarded the project $4.7 million for a geothermal energy system.
Additionally, road reconstruction and public utility has begun. Ivy Avenue will see road reconstruction with improvements to be made on sanitary sewer improvements, new watermain, storm sewer, and roadway. The closure on Ivy is expected to last until early July.
Please be aware that there will be elevated dust levels. The project team is monitoring dust in the construction area. Concerns should be made to the Saint Paul Port Authority.
For regular updates, please visit Construction at The Heights (sppa.com).
 Arcade and Neid Street Station
With much thanks to community members advocating for a more accessible station to be placed on Arcade and Neid, Metro Transit is moving forward with a Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) feasibility analysis at Arcade and Neid. Metro Transit has greatly expanded its scope and has updated their contract to accommodate a new architectural design analysis that is tailored to the Glimcher Group and City of Saint Paul parcels.
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Winona and I joined the Purple People Pop-up Party: Get Out of the Gully event hosted by the Payne-Phalen Community Council, community partners, and neighbors! We have responded to all letters and emails sent to my office, and we encourage you to keep sending your thoughts! |
White Bear Ave Alternative
Project staff are focusing on evaluating Maryland and White Bear avenues as a route alternative to collocating with the Bruce Vento Regional Trail between Maryland and Beam avenues. Metro Transit is currently in the Route Modification Stude (RMS) Phase II, which evaluates a new narrowed center-running transit lane design option in Saint Paul, public engagement regarding transit design options, and refinement of concept design layouts.
Johnson Parkway
Additionally, project staff have identified alternatives to the Johnson Parkway Bridge design. Staff are planning public engagement with the surrounding neighborhoods over the next few weeks and will discuss with Saint Paul District Councils, Elim Church, Hmong Village, and multi-family buildings that will be impacted by the new alternatives.
Center-Running Lane
Regarding the center-running lane, the concept design is complete and staff have begun the evaluation. A preliminary evaluation indicated this option has more major property impacts and potentially more full property takes; similar wait times at traffic lights, less convenient neighborhood street access; and improved safety due to reduced left-turn conflicts than the other options in Saint Paul (One Side-Running and Two Side-Running transit lanes).
Purple Line project staff will host three open houses, among other events, during a comment period between July 8 and August 30, to solicit feedback on the evaluation between the Bruce Vento Regional Trail Collocation and the White Bear Avenue Corridor route alternatives, at the same time as engagement on the narrowed center-running transit option in Saint Paul. The primary goal of this upcoming engagement period is to understand the community’s preference for the Purple Line BRT route.
 In May, we celebrated the groundbreaking of a special and long-awaited nature sanctuary at the Wakan-Tipi Awanyankapi Groundbreaking Event. I had the special honor to applaud the organization's efforts in reaching this milestone and pay homage to Dakota ancestors who lived and were expelled from this sacred land.
The groundbreaking represents a large victory for the descendants of the Dakota people and for the organization’s founders, who envisioned its existence nearly 25 years ago. As recognized in the county's proclamation declaring May 2024 as American Indian Heritage Month, less than 200 years ago Governor Ramsey forcefully removed the area's American Indian residents from their homelands, creating a declaration that "the Sioux Indians of Minnesota must be exterminated or driven forever beyond the borders of the state." This led to the lynching of 38 Dakota men in Mankato on December 26, 1862.
Although there is vast work that must be done to create greater equity for our Native community and to restore our natural Minnesota landscape, Wakan-Tipi Awanyankapi's nature sanctuary marks a new dawn. Thank you for inviting me to be witness to a momentous day for our Dakota brothers and sisters.
Click here to learn more about the organization.
With the end of the legislative session, we saw several wins that will expand Ramsey County's funds to invest in jobs, workforce, homelessness prevention and solutions, youth treatment homes, and transportation. The African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Act passed, which will contain $5 million for Ramsey and Hennepin County to implement a pilot version of the law in January 2025, with the law going statewide in January 2027. This law is one of the first in the nation that will increase protections for families facing separation through the foster care system.
Second, the Agriculture/Energy omnibus bill contains $5 million in one-time funding for the Ramsey/Washington Anaerobic Digester Project.
Regrettably, the S.F. 4655 bill, which aimed to establish the Ramsey County Economic Development Authority (EDA) and enhance the County Housing and Redevelopment Authority's (HRA) capabilities to include small business assistance, did not advance to a vote. As a result, we are currently unable to utilize our HRA levy for business support. Nonetheless, I remain committed to garnering support for the EDA initiative.
Note: Ramsey County offices are closed on June 19 to observe Juneteenth.
Minnesota Housing Partnership (MHP), in partnership with Northcountry Cooperative Foundation (NCF), is preparing to apply to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Preservation and Reinvestment Initiative for Community Enhancement (PRICE) Main Program.
If awarded, MHP intends to sub-grant the funds to manufactured home communities and Native Nations. Awards for manufactured home communities in Minnesota and Wisconsin will include infrastructure work in resident-owned communities (ROCs) and acquisition funding for residents looking to purchase their communities. In Native Nations in the Dakotas, Minnesota, or Wisconsin, homeowners with limited income will be eligible for funding to repair their manufactured homes.
Public Comment Period
In accordance with the rules governing the PRICE program, a public comment period will begin on Wednesday, June 12th (end of day) and end on June 27th (end of day).
Submit Questions and Comments
You can submit your questions and comments regarding this application in the following ways:
- By email to: price@mhponline.org
- By participating in a public hearing on Tuesday, June 18th at 2:00pm CT – 3:00pm CT
- By mail: 2446 University Ave w., Suite 106, Saint Paul, MN 55114
Public Hearing Details
The public hearing will be held in-person at the NCF offices:
- Address: 2610 University Ave West, Suite 150, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55114
Parking is available on the street. Please use the buzzer at the door of Suite 150 to enter.
For your convenience, the hearing will also be accessible via Zoom, and Spanish interpretation will be available. You can join the meeting in one of the following ways:
We encourage everyone interested in the application process to participate. Your feedback is important to us and will help shape the future of our communities.
Ramsey County provides a large range of services.
Service Centers
Ramsey County has several Service Center locations and five community partner sites that provide Navigator services. A Navigator is a county staff member that helps residents access a wide range of services and programs including financial assistance services, social services, employment assistance, and voter registration.
For more information about the service centers, click here: Service Centers | Ramsey County
To submit a Service Center Navigator Referral Form for yourself or for another person, click here: Service Center Navigators Referral Form | Ramsey County
Did you know that we have a site solely dedicated to helping Ramsey County residents in business? Ramsey County Community & Economic Development has a useful Incentives Dashboard that serves as a one-stop spot for grants and funding opportunities across Saint Paul and other Ramsey County cities.
My office has directed several constituents to our Open to Business program, which provides technical assistance and other forms of support to small business owners and entrepreneurs for FREE. At no cost, you can receive help in business plan development, financing projections, city and state licenses, loan packaging, and more! These services are provided in partnership with the Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers, which also offers capital loan services for qualifying businesses.
Sign up to contract with Ramsey County!
Did you know that we have a site solely dedicated to helping Ramsey County residents in business? Ramsey County Community & Economic Development has a useful Incentives Dashboard that serves as a one-stop spot for grants and funding opportunities across Saint Paul and other Ramsey County cities.
My office has directed several constituents to our Open to Business program, which provides technical assistance and other forms of support to small business owners and entrepreneurs for FREE. At no cost, you can receive help in business plan development, financing projections, city and state licenses, loan packaging, and more! These services are provided in partnership with the Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers, which also offers capital loan services for qualifying businesses. |
