The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners approved county priorities for a potential economic stimulus package that may be introduced in Congress before the August recess.

At the recommendation of members of the Minnesota congressional delegation, the board set the following parameters for requests.

Projects must:
• Be turn-key – something that could be ready to go in three months or less.

• Require $1 million or less in funding.
• Be health and human services or infrastructure related.

Recommendations for an economic stimulus package include Lowry Bridge removal, Third Avenue enhancement for pedestrian/bicycle facilities, Library Job and Careers Center expansion, refurbishing and renovating Fort Snelling, rehabbing tax-forfeited properties, and foreclosed property acquisition. Human services priorities include reinstating child-support enforcement provisions, enhancing the food-stamp program, and expansion of the federal share of Medicaid.

Details on the recommendations are available on the Hennepin County website – www.hennepin.us,