7/13/09 – Groundbreaking Held for MPHA's First American "Recovery Act" Project

The Honorable Shaun Donovan, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S Senator Amy Klobuchar, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, County Comissioner Peter McLaughlin, Minneapolis Public Housing Authority Executive Director Cora McCorvey, Knutson Construction Services President Doug Jandro, and community members took part in a special event on Friday July 10 celebrating Minneapolis Public Housing Authority’s (MPHA) first American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) project at The Cedars high-rise apartment community in Minneapolis.

Knutson Construction Services is the General Contractor for the $3.3 million site enhancement project  which includes installation of a storm water retention system, concrete parking surface, and LED lighting system.  To support the Recovery Act, which is aimed at creating jobs and jumpstarting the economy, Knutson has aggressively sought participation in the project by local Disadvanged Business Enterprises which include small businesses and firms owned by women and minorities. The subcontractors who will  partner with Knutson to transform The Cedars site include: Initiative Construction, Mitchell Construction, MacHill Construction, L.Hall & Associates, GF Services LLC, L & K Landscaping – in partnership with Boler Enterprises; Complete Construction of Minneapolis ─ in partnership with Vincent Brown Trucking, MP Consultants, MFRA,  Boone Trucking, and Able Fencing.

Doug Jandro, President of Knutson said, “Knutson Construction Services is honored to work with MPHA in putting approximately 162  people to work while making The Cedars site more beautiful, more energy efficient, and friendlier to the environment.”  The construction project is located at 630 Cedar Avenue South in Minneapolis and is scheduled for completion in late spring 2010.