• $35 million for the Rochester Civic Center expansion
• $20 million for reconstruction of Nicollet Avenue in downtown Minneapolis
• $14.5 million for a new addition to the Mankato Civic Center
• $14 million to double the size of the Children’s Museum in downtown St. Paul
• $10.1 million for an expansion of the St. Cloud Civic Center

Today, Governor Mark Dayton introduced a bonding proposal that would invest $750 million in infrastructure projects statewide, creating an estimated 21,000 Minnesota jobs. The plan – which builds on the Governor’s proposed budget measures to get Minnesotans back to work – would address many of the state’s needed infrastructure improvements and strengthen Minnesota’s economy.

WHAT MINNESOTANS ARE SAYING

The Minnesota Department of Corrections is utilizing new technology to keep our prisons more secure and to make our communities safer. A recently-installed radio system, called Allied Radio Matrix for Emergency Responders (AMER), now allows prisons to communicate with one another more quickly.

The need for this technology quickly became apparent when the Department of Corrections locked down all ten state prisons in January. Corrections officers were rounding up member of the Native Mob street gang in connection with a federal investigation into their activities. Corrections staff were able to use new radios to coordinate efforts (as seen on KSTP). From Faribault to St. Cloud to Moose Lake, corrections officers communicated seamlessly with radios on the ARMER radio system.

The ARMER system was developed to allow all public safety entities to have radios that talk to each other. It’s the kind of government reform that just makes sense. 

“I am hopeful, because I believe in Minnesota. I believe in Minnesotans.”

Governor Mark Dayton – February 15, 2012

Last night, Governor Mark Dayton delivered his State of the State address to a joint session of the Minnesota Legislature at the Minnesota State Capitol. By stressing the need to make key investments to get Minnesota working again, Governor Dayton outlined a clear vision for future prosperity in Minnesota: investing in jobs, investing in stronger education, and reform of government services.

The Governor called on business leaders and legislators to work with him to invest in more jobs in Minnesota. “They must be our No. 1 priority. So I say to legislators, let’s take your best ideas and my best ideas and turn them into jobs, and let’s do it now.” He urged the legislature to pass a combination of his bonding proposals, “Jobs Now” tax credits, and the Vikings stadium to put tens of thousands of Minnesotans back to work.

The Governor also stressed the reforms that have been made in education over the last year.  In 2011, the Governor expanded Early Childhood Education, a step which helped to win Minnesota a federal Race to the top award. This year, Minnesota was one of only 10 states to earn a waiver from the failed No Child Left Behind law. The Governor acknowledged these successes and then challenged legislators to develop education initiatives in cooperation with educators. He challenged educators to prepare their students for jobs of the future.