As Size of Minnesota’s Budget Shortfall Increases, Average Percentage of People in Line 3 Counties Needing Jobs Continues to Go Up

WEEKLY AVERAGE OF WORKERS IN THE 14 “LINE 3 COUNTIES” WHO HAVE FILED UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMS IS NOW ABOVE 24% AT TIME WHEN LINE 3 WOULD IMMEDIATELY CREATE NEEDED JOBS AND TAX REVENUE

(BEMIDJI, MINN) As the State of Minnesota budget deficit gets worse, the number of people needing economic help in Northern Minnesota has increased for the 10^th week in a row. The latest information from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) shows the average percentage of workers in the 14 “Line 3 Counties” who have filed unemployment insurance claims continues is now 24.1%. The Minnesota Management and Budget office has released updated information that shows the state is facing a $4.7 billion potential budget shortfall. The Line 3 project will invest more than $2 billion in private sector dollars that would immediately create thousands of jobs and millions in new tax revenue at such a critically important time for Minnesota.

“Not only does Minnesota need to find a way to get people back to work, we also need to find a way to generate tax revenue to fill the growing hole that COVID-19 has created in the state budget,” said Peter Nelson, President and owner of Integrated Process Solutions, a full-service electrical engineering and construction firm with headquarters in Fosston. “Our unemployment challenge gets worse each week and the state’s budget hole is also getting bigger. Line 3 is the only way Minnesota can immediately begin to change this. Thankfully this project is ready to go and the only thing we need now is leadership from Governor Walz to make sure construction starts this year.”

The Line 3 project has been under review by agencies and regulators for more than five years. If construction is able to start this year, Enbridge will invest approximately $2.6 billion and the project will immediately create more than 4,000 good paying, union jobs. Line 3 would generate an estimated $35 million in new tax revenue for Minnesota in its first year of service using the replaced pipeline. To prepare for construction, Enbridge has already spent more than $80 million in local communities and to help train tribal members for construction jobs.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s decision to hold a contested case hearing on key permits for the project means the earliest construction could start would be mid-November of this year. In June, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) voted 4-1 to deny requests from the Minnesota Department of Commerce and other project opponents to reconsider its approval of both the certificate of need and the route permit. The PUC has refiled the certificate of need and route permit to continue the overall permitting process for the project.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is now considering if he will have the Minnesota Department of Commerce again file a legal challenge to the PUC decisions. If any additional legal challenges are filed by the Walz Administration, it would likely create additional delays resulting in construction work being put off until 2021 at the earliest.

“Making sure Line 3 starts this year sends an important message that Minnesota is taking the right steps to make sure we start to recover economically,” Nelson said. “We can immediately know that people will have jobs and communities will see new dollars being spent in stores and restaurants. Minnesota policy makers will also know there will be new tax revenue to help balance the budget crisis as soon as the line is done. There is no other way this can happen without Governor Walz saying ‘NO’ to any more appeals and ‘YES’ to getting Line 3 approved as soon as possible.”

Latest average unemployment insurance information for Line 3 Counties as of July 30^th

County		Percentage
Kittson		11.2%
Beltrami		23.5%
Marshall		15.8%
Pennington		22.5%
Polk		20.3%
Red Lake		20.1%
Clearwater		28.2%
Hubbard		25.7%
Cass		32.5%
Crow Wing		28.5%
Aitkin		26.2%
Carlton		28.4%
St. Louis		29.2%
Wadena		25.3%


AVERAGE		24.1%

Percentage of people filing for unemployment insurance as a share of the 2019 available labor force

Data provided by Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
https://mn.gov/deed/data/data-tools/unemployment-insurance-statistics/

Contact: Susan Goudge
Susan@Minnesotansforline3.com | 218-556-3617

We can’t afford to wait any longer for Line 3

“It’s long overdue for those making decisions in this state to pause and look at the facts. We cannot afford another appeal. Too much time and taxpayer dollars have been used to repeatedly determine that Line 3 is necessary.

If we do not approve Line 3 and get started soon, the people of Minnesota will deserve an explanation about why the most studied pipeline project in our state’s history – that literally checks every box – was stalled at a time when our economy needs it so much.”

Rich Siegert, Rochester Post Bulletin

Minnesota needs Line 3 project

“Let’s get one thing clear: Minnesota needs Line 3.

Replacing Line 3 will bring thousands of jobs to our state at a time when we desperately need it. While our legislature stalls on a bonding bill and other forms of relief, how about Governor Walz and his administration making an easy decision to stop delaying a project that will bring thousands of jobs to northern Minnesota?”

Craig Gaasvig, Grand Forks Herald

Nearly six years to replace Line 3 is too long

“My family has farmed in Clearwater County for 85 years. As farmers, we take pride in our land and work hard to take care of the soil and water around us. We also take very seriously planning our farming operations, including rotating our crops and maintaining our equipment.

For 48 years, we’ve hosted six pipelines on our property and have always had a good relationship with the company. In 2014, we received a letter from Enbridge about the company’s intention to replace its Line 3 pipeline. Since that initial letter, we’ve worked with Enbridge on the easement for the replacement pipe and have considered our farming plans to accommodate construction.”

Brian Emmel, Bemidji Pioneer

Support Minnesotans by supporting Line 3

“In trying times like these, you would think local governments would try to work together to get things done. The fact of the matter is, they can’t — or they won’t. The gridlock in our state house is at an all-time high, and neither side seems willing to concede anything to the other. You would think they would care more about the people than these political chess matches; but for the most part, that’s not the case. Minnesota needs jobs more than ever — as well as the hope that things can get better. As we struggle with COVID19, the changes it has forced upon us have left too many of our businesses to drop like flies, with more people applying for unemployment every day.”

Dave Langfeld, Duluth News Tribune

Letters to the Editor Supporting Line 3:

We can’t afford to wait any longer for Line 3

Minnesota needs Line 3 project

Nearly six years to replace Line 3 is too long

Support Minnesotans by supporting Line 3

Stay Informed:
Be the first to know about Line 3 news as it happens by joining the Minnesotans for Line 3 email list.

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!