Center for Technical Education Closes on Downtown Minot Property
In October, the City of Minot closed on the Trinity property acquired for the downtown Center for Technical Education, completing a major milestone in the project, and continuing the effort to spend National Disaster Resilience (NDR) funds by September 30, 2023.
The Center for Technical Education (CTE) is a part of the NDR action plan to foster economic resilience and diversification. Minot State University (MSU) and Dakota College at Bottineau (DCB) will provide programming and management for the CTE. MSU and DCB will work with schools to develop post-secondary training options for targeted career programs. Discussions on initial programming have centered around courses in hospitality, computer related fields and training for Certified Nursing Assistants.
The CTE Committee, which is leading the initiative, is a combined effort with leadership from MSU, DCB, the City of Minot, Trinity Health and Minot Public Schools. The property at 120 Burdick Expressway East in Minot is accessible, has ample parking and is the ideal size for the CTE, while contributing to sustainable economic growth by drawing both faculty and students as potential consumers to support downtown businesses.
The completion of the CTE will bring Minot in line with other larger communities like Fargo, Bismarck, and Grand Forks which have similar facilities.
The City’s original NDR action plan earmarked $1.54 million in funding for the CTE project. The City Council voted to add an additional $2 million in NDR funds, which will meet the estimated needs for completion of the project.
Blu on Broadway Opening Celebrated
Blu on Broadway, a master-planned mixed-use development, celebrated its grand opening in October. This development is a 5-story building that includes main level commercial space, and long-term affordable housing units on the upper floors. This project is made possible by the partnership between the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, the City of Minot, Minot’s National Disaster Resilience Program and EPIC Companies.
“We are open and so excited to provide more opportunities for affordable housing in the City of Minot. By being along Broadway, commercial tenants like X-Golf Minot and Ambition Nutrition were quick to sign a lease,” said McKenzy Braaten, VP Marketing and Public Relations at EPIC Companies.
Construction began in spring of 2020 and concluded fall of 2021. Epic Companies has filled all 42 units on the upper floor, along with over 6,000 square feet of commercial space leased on the ground floor. The development brings amenities like underground parking, a community video board, and more to this prime location in Minot, ND.
“We’re pleased that the City of Minot is able to play a role in this public/private partnership by providing funds through our National Disaster Resilience Program,” said Minot Mayor Shaun Sipma. “This project will help address Minot’s shortage of low-to-moderate income housing and improve the quality of life in our community, which is precisely what this federal funding was intended to do.”
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
Acquisition Program
• Overall, the City of Minot has acquired 204 properties to date: 81 properties using NDRCDBG funds and 123 properties using State Water Commission Funds; 7 properties included in the 81 NDR properties were partially funded with State Water Commission funds. These properties are needed for on-going or upcoming flood mitigation projects.
• So far, the City has demolished 182 properties in the first five buyout areas; the demolition contractor will continue with demolition activities on assigned properties through November, weather permitting.
• The City’s structure and salvage auctions continue, and all sales generate program income which will be fed directly back into acquisition program future purchases.
Affordable Housing
• 181 people have applied to the Resilient Homebuyer Program (RHP): 60 RHP applicants have purchased a home under the program; 40 RHP applicants are in the project pipeline (i.e., working with lender or realtor, looking for a property, etc.), 81 RHP applicants have withdrawn their application (i.e., moved away, lender determined they were not eligible, etc.). The program continues accepting applications.
• Milton Young Towers (MYT) renovation project continues; the Certificate of Occupancy for the current phase is complete and punch list finalized. The fire suppression systems and generator were tested during October, which will add resilience to the project.
• Construction is ongoing on Park South II, a 22-unit affordable housing development. The project is on schedule; all utilities are in and housing units should be framed in before winter. It is anticipated that substantial construction work will resume Spring 2022.
• Construction is underway on Souris Heights, a 54-unit affordable senior housing complex.
• The City continues to work with Project BEE to move the development of the 17-unit affordable housing development forward; the revised subrecipient agreement between the City and Project BEE was approved by Council in September. Project BEE (formerly YWCA) is working to get their SAM.gov registration completed in their new name prior to beginning any work.
Family Homeless Shelter
• The City continues to work with Project BEE to move the development of the family homeless shelter forward; the revised subrecipient agreement between the City and Project BEE was approved by Council in September. Project BEE (formerly YWCA) is working to get their SAM.gov registration completed in their new name prior to beginning any work.
City Hall
• The tenant relocation activities at the old Wells Fargo building continue to move forward, as NDR staff works with current tenants on their relocation options. All tenants will be relocated by late November or early December. City staff is working on construction plans and specs, with the bid to be opened and completed before the year end. Contract award is anticipated in December.
Center for Technical Education
• The purchase of the Trinity building closed on October 15th. Once a lease agreement is executed between Minot State University, Dakota College at Bottineau, and Minot Area Development Council, the City will execute the subrecipient agreement.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Reduce Flood Risk/ Improve Water Management
A. Buyouts / Acquisitions / Demolitions / Relocations
