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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City of Duluth Communications Office
411 West First Street • Duluth, Minnesota 55802 • www.duluthmn.gov
For more information, please call 218-730-5309
DATE: 5/19/2026
SUBJECT: Mayor Roger Reinert responds to state bonding bill passage
BY: Kelli Latuska, Public Information Officer

Mayor Roger Reinert responds to state bonding bill passage

 

 

 

[DULUTH, MN] On Sunday, the Minnesota State Legislature passed a $1.2 billion capital investment (bonding) bill. Bonding bills are intended to make long-term investments in core infrastructure, like streets, bridges, water treatment plants and wastewater systems.

 

The bonding bill includes a total of $24.6 million for projects in the Duluth area. Included in the 2026 bill are:

 

  • Lakewood Water Treatment Plant: $4.268 million
  • 148th Fighter Wing Hangar Design: $3.5 million
  • Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center: $4.99 million
  • Union Gospel Mission relocation: $8.85 million
  • Duluth International Airport Air Traffic Control Tower: $2 million
  • Duluth North Shore Sanitary District: $958,000

 

In response to the bonding bill, Mayor Roger Reinert said: “I appreciate legislators on both sides coming together to pass a much-needed public infrastructure bill, and I’m grateful to Duluth’s legislative delegation for securing investments that benefit our city and region. The Lakewood Water Treatment Plant which provides drinking water to Duluth, Hermantown, Proctor, and Rice Lake, to the Union Gospel Mission relocation and engagement center, the 148th Fighter Wing hangar project, and funding for a new air traffic control tower at Duluth International Airport are a few examples. This bill delivers almost $25 million in meaningful investments for our community.”

 

Mayor Reinert continued, “This year’s bonding bill invests in Duluth’s future by strengthening critical infrastructure, supporting economic growth, and creating lasting impacts across the region. While we were hopeful to receive funding for seawall repairs at Lot D, we are grateful the State awarded funding for environmental cleanup work at the site. This will help move an important waterfront redevelopment project forward. I’m proud of the work our team and legislative partners did to advance these priorities for Duluth and our region."

 

Other statewide grant programs in the bill include:

 

Transportation

  • Local Road Improvement Program: $47 million
  • Local Bridge Replacement Program: $25 million

 

Water Infrastructure

  • Clean Water Grants: $26 million
  • Drinking Water Grants: $30 million
  • Lead Service Line Replacement: $15 million
  • Emerging Contaminants Grant Program: $17 million

 

Public Housing

  • Public Housing Rehabilitation: $17.7 million

 

For more information about the 2026 bonding bill, visit https://www.house.mn.gov/sessiondaily/Story/19193.

 

 

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