A fourfold increase over the previous record investment in local bridges is among the highlights of Gov. Tim Pawlenty's recent bonding recommendations.

Of the nearly $1.09 billion proposal, $965 million would come from general obligation bonding, which stays within the 3 percent of budget debt service limit.

More than 43 percent of the bill is aimed at statewide projects, 29.8 percent to projects in the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area and 27 percent to Greater Minnesota projects.

Transportation accounts for nearly 40 percent of the bill, including $225 million for local bridge replacement. The amount, which would cover the state's share to replace 600 local spans, is more than four times larger than any previous bill in state history. The amount would be allocated on a priority basis deemed from lists compiled by the Department of Transportation.The bill also contains $70 million for the Central Corridor rail project between downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul, and $55 million for the state's share of an Urban Partnership Agreement. The latter allows the state receive $133.3 million from the federal government for a project that includes a congestion pricing lane to Interstate 35W south of downtown Minneapolis, rebuilding two Minneapolis streets for better transit use and adding park-and-ride facilities.

Higher education accounts for 23.7 percent of the bill. The University of Minnesota and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system would each receive $129 million under Pawlenty's plan. The environment and outdoors would receive $175 million, or 16 percent, of the proposed funds. This includes $46 million for drinking water and wastewater treatment facility improvements and $30 million for wetland preservation activities.

Other than $40 million for a new arena in Duluth, the proposal contains no local projects. "There were many meritorious local projects requested, but this is not the year to do them," Pawlenty said.

• Mark Carlson, Minnesota Mailing Solutions, and Jason Flohrs, TwinWest director of government affairs, testified at a field hearing of the U.S. Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee hosted by Senator Norm Coleman at the James J. Hill Library in St. Paul. The hearing was titled: Affordable Healthcare: A Big Problem for Small Businesses.  Mark spoke about the specific challenges his small business faced in health care, and talked about the role rising health care costs played in his decision to sell his business. Jason spoke about the issue in a larger context, and offered some solutions (from TwinWest's 2008 Business Agenda) of how to get a handle on rising health care costs. Other testifiers at the hearing included: Cal Ludeman, commissioner, Minnesota Department of Human Services; Bill Oemichen, president and CEO, Minnesota Association of Cooperatives (MAC) and Wisconsin Federation of Cooperatives (WFC); Sue Eskedahl, vice president, Employers Association Inc.; and Sanjay Kuba, chief technology officer, GCI Systems.

• For the fourth year in a row, the City of Hopkins is again offering a free opportunity to learn more about the operations, facilities, and services of the city through the Citizens Academy. Residents of Hopkins can participate in a felony traffic stop, take the position of a firefighter on an engine and learn how a firefighter prepares to fight fires, find out more about the city's budget and discover how economic development projects are put together. This five-week course, which is held on Thursday nights, offers you an opportunity to find out more about how Hopkins works. Classes will be held at 6:30 p.m. beginning February 28, at a different location within the city every week. The sessions are designed to be interactive as well as a fun and informative. To read more click here.
  
  
• In anticipation of Southwest Light Rail service, the City of Hopkins, in association with Hennepin County, is holding the final Open House regarding the Station Area Planning Study on Thursday, January 17, from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. at Hopkins City Hall. The presentation will include recommendations regarding: location and number of transit stations; character of transit plazas and areas beyond; issues of site access and traffic and parking impacts; and transit-oriented development (TOD) opportunities.
  
  
• The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development has awarded the city $125,000 to help clean up contaminants at the former site of Town and Country Dodge. L.A. Fitness has plans to build a 34,000 square foot fitness center at the site (17th Ave and Highway 7), which is contaminated with petroleum and asbestos, among other contaminants.  DEED awarded $3.1 million in cleanup grants to 13 contaminated sites in the state.  Other sites in the west metro receiving grants include the Basset Creek Office Centre in Plymouth and Erv's Garage in St. Louis Park.

• TwinWest and the City of Minnetonka are pleased to invite all Minnetonka businesses and residents to the 2008 State of the City Address by Mayor Jan Callison Wednesday, February 6, from 7:30 - 9:00 a.m. at the Minnetonka Community Center, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd., Minnetonka. A continental breakfast will be served. Please RSVP by Wednesday, January 30, to Karen Telega at ktelega@eminnetonka.com or 952.939.8211.
  
• Learn more about your Minnetonka by attending the free 2008 Minnetonka Citizen Academy, which takes place over five evenings in January and February. For more information click here.

New Hope:

• Plan to attend the New Hope State of the City on Tuesday, February 12, from 7:30 - 9:00 a.m. at New Hope City Hall. Hear from Mayor Opem as he reviews the challenges and successes of 2007, highlights events and developments in the coming year, and outlines opportunities and challenges that New Hope will be facing in the future. A light breakfast will be served, and there is no cost to attend.

Plymouth:

• Attend the quarterly Plymouth City Center Connection on Thursday, January 24 from 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. at the US Bank - Plymouth City Center Location (3305 Plymouth Blvd). Meet for networking, discuss local issues and get to know your business neighbors in Plymouth. There is no cost to attend, admittance with a business card.
  
• Arctic Cat Inc. will move its headquarters to Plymouth this spring. The company said in a statement that some corporate executives, general managers and sales and marketing personnel will move to the new location. Manufacturing operations will remain in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. Company officials had previously announced they'd move their leadership to the Twin Cities, though they hadn't named a site. Arctic Cat plans to eventually expand to 11,000 square feet of space. Published by the Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal.

Hopkins High School:

• Thursday morning, January 17, TwinWest and TDS Metrocom, in partnership with  Hopkins Public Schools kicked off the Hopkins High School Student Membership program. The program will help students: learn the role of business in the economy; understand the role played by a chamber of commerce in community and business development; interact with business professionals; make important career decisions; and gain self-confidence and poise in dealing with professionals. Students will become official members of the TwinWest Chamber until graduation in June 2009 and will attend a selection of TwinWest events and programs, including networking/lead exchange groups, government affairs committees and lobby days, TwinWest Emerging leaders luncheons, and event planning functions. Thanks to TDS Metrocom for sponsoring each of these students as members. For more information, contact the TwinWest Chamber office at 763.450.2220.