Cottage Grove's $50K state request for business incubator in play

• Sen. Katie Sieben

Sen. Katie Sieben of Cottage Grove says on Wednesday that a proposed bonding bill has room for improvement. The bill did include $50,000 for Cottage Grove's proposed business incubator. Photo by Don Davis/State Capitol Bureau

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• Senate bonding bill differs from House, governor plans

Cottage Grove’s state funding request for its small-business incubator project is in play as lawmakers put together a public works package.

The city is seeking $50,000 in state-borrowed funds to help convert City Hall on 80th Street into a facility where startup businesses could rent space at a discounted rate. The incubator project would launch after city staff move to the new municipal building this fall.

The city's request was included in the Senate’s public works construction bill, also known as a bonding bill, at the full $50,000. The Senate plan was released Wednesday. Sen. Katie Sieben, DFL-Cottage Grove, authored the local funding request.

Cottage Grove’s project was not included in the House bonding proposal, nor was it part of Gov. Mark Dayton’s bonding plan. However, it could be part of negotiations on a final bill.

Rep. John Kriesel, R-Cottage Grove, sponsored the local request in the House. Kriesel, who is a member of the House Capital Investment Committee that puts together the bonding bill, said he will continue to push to get Cottage Grove funding.

“I will not give up on this legislation,” Kriesel said. “The city of Cottage Grove doesn’t ask me for much, and I am committed to getting them the help they need with this pro-business measure that will make a difference in our community.”

Cottage Grove City Administrator Ryan Schroeder testified in support of the city's request at House and Senate committee hearings.

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