Sun Post Editions Brooklyn Center/Brooklyn Park | Page 7

post.mnsun.com
Brooklyn Park / Brooklyn Center
Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019 • Page 7
BP EDA gives go-ahead for TIF dollars to fund balance on Hwy. 169, 101st Avenue
By KEVIN MILLER
[e-mail]
Brooklyn Park’s Eco-
nomic Development Au-
thority may use tax incre-
ment fi nancing dollars to
fund part of its remain-
ing $3.9 million fund
balance for the Highway
169 and 101st Avenue in-
terchange project.
The project, estimated
to cost $28.2 million, is
planned to go out for
construction bids in
2019. The city has se-
cured $23.5 million, or 83
percent of costs in state
and federal funds for the
project.
The development au-
thority unanimously ap-
proved the potential use
of tax increment fi nanc-
ing at its Feb. 19 meeting,
with President Jeff Lunde
and Commissioner Mark
Mata absent.
An estimated $800,000
in local funds has al-
ready been expended on
the project. The remain-
ing $3.9 million balance
could be funded through
both an assessment on
(SUBMITTED IMAGE)
An overhead view of the project area with details on right-of-way impacts.
benefi ting properties and
through tax increment fi -
nancing.
The fi nal level of TIF
funding needed would be
determined after the city
fully determined the reve-
nue from a special assess-
ment to benefi ting prop-
erties. Additionally, the
funding required could
increase or decrease if
there is a change in proj-
ect costs.
The EDA could choose
to use a different fund-
ing source later in the
project process, and the
commitment of TIF funds
is intended to be used as a
tool to indicate to other
granting agencies that the
city is “all-in” for available
project funding, said Kim
Berggren, executive direc-
tor of the Economic De-
velopment Authority.
Berggren estimated that
between $2 million and $3
million in revenue can be
expected from a special
assessment, but that ex-
act statistic is still to be
determined.
Commissioner Lisa Ja-
cobson said she was con-
cerned about potentially
assessing religious institu-
tions near the interchange
project.
Additionally, there are
parcels of land which
will need to be purchased
for right-of-way for the
interchange. As part of
that right-of-way acquisi-
tion, some nearby parcels
could lose site access, ef-
fectively becoming land-
locked and diffi cult to
market for development.
The EDA may attempt
to purchase those land-
locked parcels from will-
ing sellers and holding
the combined parcels for
future development.
Follow Kevin Miller on Facebook
at facebook.com/mnsunpost
CEAP aims to collect $250,000, 250,000 lbs. of food in March
Special events
planned,
donations
matched
By KEVIN MILLER
[e-mail]
After breaking records
last March, Community
Emergency
Assistance
Programs is aiming to
collect 250,000 pounds of
food and $250,000 in fi -
nancial donations during
Minnesota Foodshare’s
March campaign.
“March is our biggest
annual food and fundrais-
er for CEAP. This is what
stocks our shelves and
propels our work forward
for the next few months,”
said Rachel Hickok, di-
rector of development for
CEAP. “Our mission is
heavily dependent on the
goodwill of the commu-
nity and how they come
out to support us during
the month of March.”
Last year, CEAP col-
lected a record-breaking
225,000 pounds of food
during its March cam-
paign. “This year, we’re
hoping to stretch that even
further,” Hickok said.
CEAP and its commu-
nity partners are hosting
a number of events across
the community during
March where community
members can help con-
tribute to the cause. A
portion of the funds and
food donated to CEAP
through the fi rst week of
April are eligible to be
counted towards a match-
ing gift from Greater
Minneapolis Community
Connects and its Minne-
sota Foodshare program.
“When people give,
their donation goes fur-
ther,” Hickok said.
Several area restaurants
are donating a percentage
of sales to CEAP during
March.
Every
Tuesday
in
March, Mama Ti’s Afri-
can Kitchen is offering
a 5 percent discount and
will donate 5 percent of
sales to CEAP. Daily
Dose Cafe is donating
10 cents from each drink
purchased at its Brooklyn
Park location to CEAP.
Brooklyn Park’s Broad-
way Pizza location will
donate 10 percent of your
order to CEAP March 6,
and Godfather’s Pizza in
Brooklyn Park will do-
nate 15 percent of your
order to CEAP March
8. Godfathers will also
(SUN POST FILE PHOTO)
Bluegrass group Nathan Scott Phillips plays at the 2018 Smoke Signals event at Insight Brewing. The event will be hosted again March 23.
accept round-up dona-
tions for CEAP March
3-8. Hy-Vee’s Market
Grille will donate 10
percent of your order
to CEAP Wednesday,
March 13.
CEAP is starting a new
event this year, which it is
calling the Brooklyn Tour
of the Soup du Jour. It is
a”Special community din-
ner, [with] a hearty soup,”
offered at three churches
in Brooklyn Center and
Brooklyn Park, Hickok
said. Free-will donations
will be accepted at the
events. All events will be
hosted from 4:30-6:30
p.m. Prince of Peace Lu-
theran Church, at 7217
W. Broadway, will host
a dinner Wednesday,
March 20. St. Alphonsus
Catholic Church, at 7025
Halifax Ave. N., will host
a dinner March 22, and
Brooklyn United Meth-
odist Church, at 7200
Brooklyn Blvd., will host
a dinner March 27. All
donations will support
See CEAP , Page 8