Gov. Walz announces 2023 Infrastructure Plan

Aftre releasing the full 2023 budget for the State of Minnesota, Governor Tim Walz has outlined his Administration’s Infrastructure Plan.

The Governor’s capital investment recommendations for the upcoming legislative session is the largest in state history. The $3.3 billion plan invests in projects focused on roads, bridges, water systems, housing and homelessness, and environmental stewardship.

The 2023 Infrastructure Plan includes $1.9 billion in General Obligation Bonds and $1.4 billion in other financing, including $250 million in Appropriation Bonds and $899 million in General Fund cash. General Obligation Bonds are backed by the state’s full faith and credit and finance publicly owned capital projects. Appropriation Bonds are repaid through annual appropriations from the Legislature and can be used to finance a broader range of capital projects.

“The investments in our Infrastructure Plan are a down payment on the future of our state,” said Governor Walz. “Strong infrastructure is what allows Minnesotans to live safe and healthy lives. It’s what keeps our drinking water clean, our roads and bridges safe to drive on, and our communities safe from flooding. The investments in our 2023 Infrastructure Plan will support the economic vitality of our communities, while creating thousands of good-paying jobs.”

“The 2023 Infrastructure Plan lays out a vision of safe, strong, and connected communities, with a historic investment in projects led by and for communities of color and Native communities to create a lasting impact for generations,” said Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan. “These investments are one of the most powerful tools we have to create critical jobs, address a spectrum of housing needs, promote community growth and building, center equity, and put us on a path of environmental stewardship.”

Below is the breakdown of funding from the Walz Administration:

Roads, Bridges, and Water Systems
Our state’s roads, bridges, and water systems protect Minnesotans’ health and safety while ensuring the vitality of communities. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor’s 2023 Infrastructure Plan invests more than $650 million in road, bridge, and water system projects across the state. The plan includes $144 million for local bridge replacements, $108 million for local road improvement projects, and $222 million in local water infrastructure grants and loans – which include an important investment of state funds to match federal infrastructure dollars.

Asset Preservation
Maintaining and renewing existing assets is an important part of a safe, healthy, and fiscally responsible state budget. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor know that when you take care of the property you have, it will last for generations to come. That’s why their 2023 Infrastructure Plan includes more than $1.2 billion to maintain and renew the property that taxpayers own and rely on every day. The plan includes more than $260 million each to repair and replace buildings in the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State systems across the state and $133 million for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to repair the buildings, roads, trails, public water accesses, bridges, and recreational facilities that make Minnesota a great place to live.

Housing and Homelessness
Every Minnesotan deserves access to a safe and affordable place to call home. Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan’s 2023 Infrastructure Plan includes more than $470 million in safe and affordable housing projects, including a historic $250 million investment in Housing Infrastructure Bonds to address the shortage of affordable housing units across the state. Additionally, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor’s plan makes investments to repair existing shelters for the most vulnerable Minnesotans.

Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan are also focused on caring for our veterans, and their 2023 Infrastructure Plan includes significant investments to address housing for veterans. Their plan includes more than $90 million in needed renovations and replacements at Minnesota’s veterans homes in Hastings, Preston, Montevideo, and Bemidji and covers the cost of replacing buildings that are more than 100 years old at the veterans home in Hastings.

Community and Equity
All Minnesotans deserve to live in a thriving community, regardless of their zip code. Minnesota is the best place in the country to grow up in because we invest in our small towns as well as our big cities. Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan propose investing more than $520 million to support projects across the state that build thriving communities. This includes a $200 million focus on equity in bonding to ensure projects reach communities that have been traditionally excluded from capital investments. These investments will help communities grow and prosper, from renovating community centers and libraries to replacing outdated fire stations.

Environmental Stewardship
Preserving our environment and mitigating the effects of climate change creates more resilient communities today and protects our state’s natural resources for the generations of tomorrow. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor propose investing more than $312 million in environmental stewardship projects across the state. The plan includes $24 million in flood hazard mitigation grants to local governments, $72 million in capital investments to bus rapid transit, $24 million for local government storm water construction grants, and $9 million in dam safety repair and reconstruction.