The city of Harris has been awarded $235,000 for one sewage lift station from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).

"Helping communities develop and preserve the kind of infrastructure they need to flourish and grow is an investment that pays dividends for all Minnesotans," said DEED Commissioner Dan McElroy. "These grants contribute to the quality of life and pave the way for economic growth."

The Small Cities Development Program grants funds to projects ranging from flood recovery and prevention to residential and commercial rehabilitation to lead paint abatement to sewer and wastewater treatment.

Administered by the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), the program makes grants available to cities and townships with populations under 50,000 and counties with populations under 200,000. This year, 87 eligible cities and counties submitted initial applications for community development projects.

The program offers financial assistance for housing and public facility projects and comprehensive projects.

Housing grants focus on rehabilitating local housing stock in ways that benefit people of low and moderate incomes.

Public facility projects include improvements to wastewater and drinking water treatment facilities, storm sewer systems, flood control projects, and streets.

Comprehensive projects are those that include housing and public facility activities, or that rehabilitate local commercial districts or pay for other building renovation/construction projects.