DEED announces $902,082 cleanup grant for Bemidji's Rail Corridor

Jan. 23—BEMIDJI — The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development recently awarded the city of Bemidji $902,082 for the cleanup of the Rail Corridor.

The site joins 11 communities throughout the state awarded a combined total of $6.9 million to assess and clean up contaminated sites for private or public redevelopment, a release said. The grant will go toward cleaning up the 19.1-acre Rail Corridor, which is contaminated with petroleum and other contaminants.

Historically a rail corridor with related commercial buildings, the site will be redeveloped as a 60,000-square-foot community wellness center operated by the YMCA as part of a larger redevelopment project expected to revitalize the area, the release said.

Located at 101 Minnesota Ave. SW, it is anticipated this project will create 77 jobs, increase the tax base by $30,000 through Payment in Lieu of Taxes payments and leverage $35 million of private investment. The city will provide matching funds.