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RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING MINNESOTA INVESTMENT FUND GRANT CONTRACT OF $500,000 WITH MINNESOTA DEED.
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CITY PROPOSAL:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Duluth (City) act as the legal sponsor for the project contained in the Minnesota Investment Fund Application in the amount of $500,000 to be submitted on or about April 7th, 2022, and that the Mayor and Chief Administrative Officer of the City are hereby authorized to apply to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) for funding of this project on behalf of the City.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City has the legal authority to apply for financial assistance, and the institutional, managerial, and financial capability to ensure professional administration of the grant.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City has not violated any federal, state, or local laws pertaining to fraud, bribery, kickbacks, collusion, conflict of interest or other unlawful or corrupt practice.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that upon approval of its application by the state, the City may enter into a Grant Contract with the State of Minnesota for the above-referenced project and that the City certifies that it will comply with all applicable laws and regulations as stated in the Grant Contract.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City has obtained credit reports, credit information and completed searches of tax liens, judgments, court actions and filings with state, federal and other regulatory agencies on Cirrus Design Corp (the "Company") and upon review by the City, the City reasonably does not believe that any pending case will cause the Company not to undertake or complete this project, nor impact the Company’s ability to repay this loan, nor jeopardize the Company’s survival.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the proper City officials are hereby authorized to execute the Grant Contract and amendments thereto, as are necessary to implement the project on behalf of the City.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: The DEDA owns the MRO building that has remained largely vacant and underutilized since that time. The City and DEDA have been seeking a tenant (or buyer) that could utilize the facility and redevelop the MRO building since AAR terminated their lease in 2020. The MRO facility will provide the necessary space to support the expansion plans of Cirrus aircraft. However, Cirrus will need to make significant and substantial capital investments across multiple facilities on their Duluth Campus.
Project Costs are expected to be in excess of $7 million. The cost of the project and retrofitting the MRO buildings is significant, and requires substantial public assistance to make it feasible. This resolution authorizes the city to enter into a grant contract with MN DEED for $500,000 and the City to accept and administer the forgivable loan to Cirrus Design Corp. The City applied for a Minnesota Investment Fund forgivable loan (MIF) from MN DEED of up to $500,000, and supported Cirrus’s application in seeking a Job Creation Fund (JCF) forgivable loan to MN DEED for up to $1.5 Million, with private equity in excess of $3.5 Million. Assistance for this project also includes $600,000 in City property tax abatement along with $600,000 in property tax abatement from St. Louis County. In addition, a City Forgivable Loan of up to $300,000 for disposal of the FSSS foam fire suppression system if Cirrus elects to purchase the MRO facility.
These investments will contribute to the retention of the current 1,206 FTE positions and the creation of at least 80 additional positions.