 The loan award is the first from the newly created Minnesota Climate Innovation Finance Authority
SAINT PAUL, MN – Today, the Minnesota Climate Innovation Finance Authority (MnCIFA) awarded a $4.7 million loan, the first for MnCIFA, to The Heights Community Energy, who plans to construct and operate a district geothermal energy system at The Heights development on the East Side of Saint Paul.
"Using the Earth’s natural energy to heat and cool a whole community is a big step toward achieving our local climate goals,” said Mayor Carter. “Together, with the support of MnCIFA and our partners at the Port Authority and District Energy, we’re building a neighborhood that can be a blueprint for a cleaner, more sustainable future."
Ward 6 Councilmember Nelsie Yang said, “The Heights is truly a once-in-a-lifetime investment to the East Side of Saint Paul. With the addition of a geothermal energy system, we hope to achieve the creation of sustainable, energy-efficient homes and close the clean energy divide by eliminating the burden of high utility bills and increasing access to the tools that’ll help communities lower their carbon footprint. This is a precedent for what is to come. I look forward to continuing to work with community leaders and all of our partners in advancing towards environmental and climate sustainability for all.”
During the 2023 session, the Minnesota Legislature passed bills that created and funded MnCIFA, which is structured as a publicly accountable financing authority, commonly known in other states as a “green bank.”
Peter Klein, MnCIFA Executive Director, said, “The Heights’ renewable energy system is a prime example where public financing is crucial to fill the gaps that exist with traditional financing. Once the multi-family housing and light-industrial buildings are constructed, the development agreement requires the buildings to all be hooked up to the energy system. At that point, the private sector will be willing to step in and fund the system.”
The Heights Community Energy will own and operate the geothermal system under the direction of District Energy St. Paul, a long-standing nonprofit utility partner to the City of Saint Paul, and the Saint Paul Port Authority, owner and master developer of The Heights.
“The community has an aspirational environmental vision for The Heights development, and advocates now have the backing of MnCIFA to help make this project a reality,” said Michael Auger, Senior Vice President and Chief Business Officer with District Energy St. Paul. “Funding support is critical in this moment of development when traditional financial avenues are not feasible, and the approval of this loan demonstrates the value of MnCIFA to decarbonize Minnesota’s building sector.”
“The delivery of a district geothermal energy system aligns perfectly with our mission around sustainable and equitable development,” said Saint Paul Port Authority President, Todd Hurley. “This system will go a long way toward achieving our goals around the creation of a carbon neutral community at the Heights.”
Once completed, The Heights will not only be home to one of the largest district geothermal energy systems in the state and the first to use aquifer thermal energy but will also help the City of Saint Paul and State of Minnesota meet their goals to be net zero by 2050 for greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors.
"St. Paul 350 and other community members were engaged with The Heights plan over the last five years. We knew district geothermal was the key to clean and affordable heat for our future neighbors at The Heights, and we know this development will be a catalyst for more community-scale climate action for new and existing Saint Paul neighborhoods," said Chelsea DeArmond, founder of St. Paul 350, a neighborhood-led environmental advocacy group.
ABOUT THE HEIGHTS The Heights is currently the largest investment in Saint Paul’s Greater East Side and is set to deliver 1,000 new housing units and 1,000 living wage jobs, alongside notable housing partners Sherman Associates, JO Companies, and the 2024 Carter Work Project with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity. With the addition of a district networked geothermal energy system, The Heights will also play a significant role in addressing the high energy burden across the East Side, providing more sustainable energy alternatives to fossil fuels and significantly lowering the cost of energy.
ABOUT MNCIFA MnCIFA is being set up within the Department of Commerce’s Energy Resources Division but is an independent agency with its own board of directors. In addition to accelerating clean energy projects, MnCIFA aims to expand access to untapped markets and bring benefits to historically underserved communities. Based on state law, MnCIFA must ensure at least 40 percent of the direct benefits of authority activities flow to environmental justice communities, which are typically determined by their U.S. census ethnic and income level characteristics. The Heights meets the definition of an environmental justice community.
ABOUT DISTRICT ENERGY ST. PAUL District Energy St. Paul is a leader in community energy, providing Saint Paul with reliable service, stable rates, and sustainable heating and cooling services for 41 years. As a mission-driven organization, District Energy has an ongoing commitment to advance its system through innovation, serving as environmental stewards, and being good community partners. For more information, visit districtenergy.com.
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Neighborhood STAR and Cultural Program
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We’d like to share about funding opportunities for your business or organization in Saint Paul Ward 6! Some grants listed apply to businesses and organizations outside of Ward 6 too. If eligible for any of these, we encourage you to submit an application as soon as possible. Please share these resources by forwarding this email, posting it on your social media, etc.! Thanks.
Neighborhood STAR Program
- This program aims to support capital improvement projects for businesses and organizations across Saint Paul and is funded by the city’s half-cent sales tax initiative.
- Eligible capital improvement projects include physical repairs for commercial and housing rehabilitation, parks, streetscape projects, and/or economic development activities. These projects and repairs need to have an expected life of 7+ years and cannot be deferred maintenance.
- The 2024 application cycle opens Friday, April 5, 2024 and must be submitted through the online portal Zoom Grants by Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at 4pm. Late applications will not be accepted.
- Interested applicants are encouraged to attend a virtual pre-proposal workshop on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 from 10am-11:30am. Find out more workshop info here.
- There is a non-refundable application fee. If you are requesting below $25,000, you will need to pay a $75 fee. If you are requesting more than $25,000, you need to pay a $125 fee.
- Should you have any further questions, please reach out to our Planning & Economic Development Program Coordinator Erin Lewis at Erin.Lewis@ci.stpaul.mn.us.
Cultural STAR Program
- This program provides grant and loan opportunities but specifically for cultural projects and organizations within the arts and cultural sectors.
- At least 80% of Cultural STAR funds will be awarded to nonprofit organizations that are located within the targeted area known as the Downtown Saint Paul Cultural District.
- The remaining 20% of funds may be allocated to:
- For-profit businesses located in the Cultural District for projects that enhance visitor enjoyment of the Cultural District; or
- Nonprofit organizations located in Saint Paul but outside of the Cultural District.
- Eligible projects must take place between August 1, 2024 and July 31, 2025.
- The 2024 application cycle opens Friday, April 5, 2024 and must be submitted through the online portal Zoom Grants by Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at 4pm. Late applications will not be accepted.
- The minimum grant request is $5,000. There is no match requirement unless you are asking for a grant above $50,000.
- Should you have any further questions, please reach out to our Planning & Economic Development Program Coordinator Jessica Larson Johnston at Jessica.Larson.Johnston@ci.stpaul.mn.us.
Year-Round Neighborhood STAR
- This program has the same eligibility rules as Neighborhood STAR but is disposed and operated in close partnership with the Saint Paul Councilmember representing your ward.
- Councilmember Yang grants interested applicants who have a business or organization in ward 6 up to $15,000 and waives the application fee and match requirements. Funding is provided in the form of reimbursement, which will only cover the approved expenses matching the eligibility guidelines.
- Applications are accepted on a rolling basis all year round.
- We highly encourage interested applicants to email or meet with Councilmember Nelsie Yang or her staff beforehand to share about your proposal. Then, interested applicants must complete and submit the attached application in this email directly to the Office of Councilmember Nelsie Yang – Ward 6 at ward6@ci.stpaul.mn.us before moving through the approval and contracting process. This process takes anywhere from 2-5 months.
- Should you have any further questions, please reach out to our Ward 6 Legislative Aide, JLor, at Jennifer.Lor@ci.stpaul.mn.us.
Providing Resources, Opportunity, and Maximizing Investments in Striving Entrepreneurs (PROMISE) Act
- This was recently created and funded by the Minnesota Legislature to provide grant and loan opportunities to help revitalize small, disadvantaged businesses located in select neighborhoods in Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and Greater Minnesota.
- To check your business eligibility, please use the following map located at the bottom of the page to view the shaded sections and check your address.
- Eligible businesses can apply either for a loan or a grant.
- Up to $28,080,000 has been budgeted for loans. Loans must be used for capital improvements projects that include renovation, expansion, or buying a building. The application to apply for a loan is now open.
- Up to $86,480,000 has been budgeted for grants. Grants may be used for working capital like supporting payroll expenses, rent or mortgage payments, utility bills, equipment, and other expenses required to run and upkeep a business. This application has not yet opened but will sometime Spring 2024. Interested applicants are encouraged to schedule a virtual meeting with MN Promise ACT staff to learn more about the loan or grant, as well as the application process and requirements. You may schedule a meeting here.
Youth Summer Sports Registration
 Registration for youth summer sports is now open
Summer Sports offered for free for ages 9+!
Fees apply for 4U, 6U, and 8U programs but you can save 25% when you register today!
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Register for summer youth softball, baseball, t-ball, machine pitch leagues or lacrosse clinics between March 1-5 and automatically save 10-25%!
• March 1 = 25% off • March 2 = 20% off • March 3-5 = 10% off
Click the links below to register online or contact your local recreation center for more information.
All registered 4U, 6U and 8U participants will receive a free glove, courtesy of the Minnesota Twins!
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How registration works:
- In-house sports registrations for age groups 8U and younger will be registered by service area. A list of the recreation centers in each service area is listed below.
- Municipal sports for age groups 10U and older are still registered by individual recreation center.
- Participants may register for any service area or recreation center activity regardless of home address.
Northwest service area: Frogtown, Hancock, Langford Park, McDonough, Northwest Como, North Dale, Rice, West Minnehaha Northeast service area: Arlington Hills, Battle Creek, Dayton's Bluff, Duluth & Case, Hazel Park, Hayden Heights, Highwood Hills, Phalen, Wilder South service area: Edgcumbe, El Rio Vista, Groveland, Highland Park, Jimmy Lee/Oxford, Linwood, Martin Luther King, Merriam Park.
Link: Youth Sports Registration | Saint Paul Minnesota (stpaul.gov)
 Looking for your perfect Prom fit? We are hosting two prom shopping events.
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Prom Sale (Battle Creek): All dresses and suits are under $5. Jewelry, shoes and ties also available. If you have gently used dress, shoes, suit/pants or accessories that you would like to donate, bring them to Battle Creek Recreation Center during business hours or call 651-501-6347.
- April 8, 4-8pm
- April 10, 4-7pm
- April 12, 10am-5pm
- April 13, 10am-1pm
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Prom Dress Giveaway (Jimmy Lee): Presented in partnership with Project Fairy Godmothers. Dresses, shoes and accessories available. All students must register for a shopping time. Hair and makeup seminars will also be available.
- April 6, 8am-3pm
- April 7 9am-1pm
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The City of Saint Paul, along with the Great River Passage Conservancy, Mississippi Park Connection and the National Park Service, is requesting proposals for a multidisciplinary team of design and engineering experts to advance the Mississippi River Learning Center through complete design and construction documents, building on the schematic design, programming and engagement work completed on the project to date.
The River Learning Center will be a one-of-a-kind space for environmental and cultural learning and a gateway to the Mississippi River, welcoming Saint Paul residents as well as visitors from across the region, nation and world to experience the land, water and culture of the Mississippi River. The River Learning Center will be situated in Hidden Falls-Crosby Farm Regional Park, a more than 600-acre site managed by the City of Saint Paul that sits at the convergence of key cultural, historical, ecological, recreational and developmental places.
With funding to advance design secured from the State Legislature in 2023, the project is ready to move into final design development and construction documentation. The awarded design team will test and refine the initial concept plan for the River Learning Center as a starting point from which to begin their design process.
Proposals are due by May 15, 2024, at 2 p.m. A consultant team will be selected and the project will kick off this summer. For more information and to view the RFP, visit here.
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