The Institute of Child Development (ICD) welcomed Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, and Minnesota Management and Budget Commissioner Myron Frans this morning as the trio embarked on a tour of proposed public building projects around the state.

“It’s going to be an exciting time,” Walz said. “It lets us get on the ground and make some assessments on these projects.”

The projects, requested by various state and local entities, are vying to be funded next year. Walz and his team plan to visit the sites of all of the projects to determine which ones he will request funding for from the legislature.

“Now is the time for robust community projects across the state,” Frans said. “Last week I was with the National Association of State Treasurers and, discussing the low interest rates, they said right now the key and smart investments are for states to fix their infrastructure and assets.”

One of the projects is the building that houses ICD. Constructed more than 100 years ago and last renovated in 1960, it is structurally not up to the standards of a modern university. CEHD is seeking $29.2 million from the legislature for a $43.8 million building renovation. The remaining funding needs will come from private gifts.

The ICD renovation project was not new to the governor’s office. “This project was in our bill this year, so we recognized this right away,” Frans said. Walz concurred, indicating that ICD had a place in his funding request. “There’s a reason we’re here,” he said. “I don’t think I’m letting anything slip here that this project will certainly be in there. That’s why we started here.”