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Local/state briefs

Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council awarded Youth Skills Training grant

The Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council was one of five applicants awarded a $95,000 Youth Skills Training (YST) grants to develop and implement paid-learning opportunities for students 16 years of age and older. Thirty-three partnerships throughout the state applied for this second round of grants.

The grants are part of a Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (YST@DLI) program, which was signed into law in 2017 with bipartisan support, to create and provide employment training for student learners ages 16 and older in high-growth, high-demand occupations.

“These grants allow high schools, businesses and community organizations to work together to train students and create skilled workers for their communities,” said Ken Peterson, DLI commissioner. The YST@DLI program develops partnerships at a local level to provide students with classroom instruction, safety training and paid learning opportunities in industries such as advanced manufacturing, agriculture, automotive, health care and information technology.

The Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council will grow and facilitate training and paid learning opportunities through a position titled “Career Pathway Navigator” devoted to the partnerships and providing a sequenced continuum of career development activities and experiences for students addressing Career Awareness, Career Exploration and Career Preparation accomplished through a series of related credit bearing classroom instruction and employer supported paid experiential learning work opportunities.

For more information about how your company or school can be involved, contact Eriann Faris at 507-476-4053.

Winter truck load increases begin today for metro, south, southeast frost zones

Winter truck load increases have begun on unrestricted highways in the metro, south and southeast frost zones, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The frost zones can be found on the MnDOT load limits map. The winter load increases have already begun in the central, north and north-central zones.

Vehicles will be allowed to operate up to 10 percent over the standard legal maximum loads on unrestricted highways during the winter load increase period. However, trucks must comply with current registration weight laws and not exceed registered gross weight tolerances.

Drivers should check with local agencies before increasing any weights on city, county and township routes. The sign erected on the roadway governs the load limit in effect. A winter weightincrease permit is required to take advantage of the 10 percent weight increase on interstate highways only; a permit is not required for state trunk highways.

For questions about allowable axle weights during winter weight increase, or enforcement related questions, call the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, State Patrol, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement; 651-405-6196 (select option 3, option 3). The legislative statute about the gross vehicle schedule is online.

To order a 10 percent winter weight increase permit for interstate travel, go MnDOT’s online oversize/overweight permitting system.

For questions about the 10 percent winter weight increase permit for interstate travel, contact MnDOT’s Oversize/Weight Permits at 651-296-6000, email ofcvopermits.dot@state.mn.us or go online to the oversize/overweight permits webpage.

The start and end dates for winter load increases are based on how weather is affecting roadway strength. These dates are established by monitoring roadway strength as weather conditions change. The end date for winter load increases is variable and drivers should check for updates throughout the year. Vehicle operators are required to check with MnDOT for the exact start and end dates.

All changes are made with a minimum three-day notice.

For the most current information, go to MnDOT’s automated 24-hour message center at 800-723-6543 for the U.S. and Canada, or 651-366-5400 for the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. This information is also published on the MnDOT seasonal load limits webpage.

For updated road condition information, call 511 or visit www.511mn.org.

$23M redevelopment project proposed in Mankato in doubt

MANKATO (AP) — The future of one of the biggest redevelopment proposals in Mankato history is uncertain because of questions about financing.

The Southern Minnesota Housing Partnership proposed a $23 million project to transform 5 acres of city-owned property near downtown into affordable housing, a day care and preschool building, supportive housing and park-like green space.

The City Council chose the proposal over two others last year because it addressed a shortage of working-class apartments, child care slots and housing with support services for families at risk of homelessness.

“Here’s where we have a need, and we need to address it,” Council President Mike Laven said at the time.

He said the project to transform the former Public Works Department site also would add “vibrancy” to a parkway the city created through a former industrial area more than a decade ago to revitalize the area just southwest of Mankato’s city center.

However, a critical piece of financing fell through last fall when the project failed to earn federal tax credits aimed at promoting construction of affordable housing, The Free Press of Mankato reported. It’s doubtful that the project can proceed without the credits, according to City Manager Pat Hentges.

“We’ll either have to extend (the proof-of-financing deadline) or start over,” he said.

City officials and the project developer are meeting this week.

“After meeting with them, we’ll have a clearer picture,” Community Development Director Paul Vogel said.

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