Posted: 5/20/04
By Barbara Brown
Residents of Stacy are being asked to watch for a survey in the mail that could help the city secure hundreds of thousands in grant money.
The city is trying to get money from a Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) program that would allow the city to hook up to the proposed regional waste water treatment facility planned for Chisago Lakes area.
Grant writer Bill Grasavage is working with the council to submit a request for about $800,000. Grasavage used to work for DEED, formerly the Department of Trade and Economic Development, and since his retirement from his position as a grant reviewer he has brought his expertise to cities to help them navigate DEEDís grant programs.
Grasavage originally had planned to ask for more than $1 million, but has since refined the grant proposal.
Integral to the proposalís success is the survey.
Residents in the city, whether they are connected to city water and sewer or not, will begin to receive the surveys through the mail this week, the council said at its May 11 meeting.
The surveys ask for information like the number of people living in the house and income of the household.
Grasavage said some people may not be comfortable telling how much money they bring in, but that they should know that the surveys are completely confidential.
No names, addresses or phone numbers are required from the people filling out the surveys.
Since the DEED grant is based on the seriousness of need and on income of the entire area to benefit, Grasavage said itís important that the city receive at least 60 percent response from the surveys.
Also at the meeting, the council found out that American Indians who were looking to build a casino near I-35 have redirected attention elsewhere.
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