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Housing & Economic Development <br />Metro Cities supports economic tools that facilitate job growth without relying solely on <br />the property tax base; green job development and related innovation and <br />entrepreneurship; programs to support minority business start-ups; small business <br />financing tools including a state new markets tax credit program mirrored on the federal <br />program; tools to attract and retain data centers and other IT facilities; and maintaining <br />existing municipal authority to establish a special service district (SSD). Metro Cities <br />supports further study of allowing mixed -use buildings that have both commercial and <br />residential uses to be included in an SSD. <br />3-K (2) Redevelopment <br />Redevelopment involves the development of land that requires "predevelopment." The goal of <br />redevelopment is to facilitate the development of "pre -used" land, thereby leveling the playing <br />field between greenfield and brownfield sites so that a private sector entity can rationally choose <br />to locate on land that has already been used. The benefits of redevelopment include a decrease in <br />Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMTs), more efficient use of new or existing public infrastructure <br />(including public transit), ameliorated city costs due to public safety and code enforcement, and <br />other public goods that result when land is reused rather than abandoned and compact <br />development is encouraged. <br />Metro Cities supports increased funding from state and regional sources. The Metropolitan <br />Council's Livable Communities Act programs fund redevelopment activities that support <br />cleanup and tax base revitalization. Metro Cities supports allowing a maximum levy amount <br />for this program, as provided under law. Metro Cities supports increased and sustained <br />general fund and state bond funds for DEED -administered programs like the <br />Redevelopment Grant Program, dedicated to metropolitan area projects, innovative <br />Business Development Public Infrastructure grants, as well as increased, flexible and <br />sustained funding for the Contamination Cleanup and Investigation Grant Program. <br />The expansion of transit service throughout the region brings opportunity for redevelopment and <br />transit oriented development (TOD). Metro Cities supports financing, regulatory tools and <br />increased flexibility in the use of TIF to nurture TOD. Metro Cities supports funding <br />Transit Improvement Areas (TIAs) and ensuring that the eligibility criteria encourage a <br />range of improvements and infrastructure and accommodate varying city circumstances <br />and needs. <br />Correcting and stabilizing polluted soils and former landfill sites allows cities to redevelop and <br />reuse properties. Metro Cities supports expansion of existing tools or development of new <br />funding mechanisms to correct unstable soils as well as city authority to redevelop land <br />previously used as landfills and dumps. If a city receives initial approval from a state <br />regulatory authority, a city's redevelopment project approval should be considered final. <br />Local governments and cities may choose to revitalize historic structures rather than construct <br />new buildings. Metro Cities supports extension of the sunset of the state income tax credit <br />and maintaining the federal tax credit for preservation of historic properties. <br />2019 Legislative Policies <br />30 <br />