Johnson Tours Madison, Discusses Economic Development Plans

Press Release

Johnson Tours Madison, Discusses Economic Development Plans

U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) today toured the city of Madison and Dakota State University. The tour focused on the Madison Industrial Park and other areas related to economic development issues.

In the past few years, Madison has lost 380 industrial jobs as Rosco, May & Scofield, Arctic Cat, and Pavement Services Inc. have all closed their doors. To help turn this situation around, last month Johnson announced he has included $200,000 in a draft appropriations bill for the Madison Industrial Park. Johnson helped to write and approve the bill in the Appropriations Committee, and next it will be considered by the full Senate later this year. The scope of the project consists of building new infrastructure to accommodate the expansion of existing businesses, and to facilitate additional job growth by attracting new businesses to the community who wish to expand or relocate.

"I am happy to see Madison's business community responding to the challenges they have faced over the past few years and taking proactive steps to expand current businesses and attract new industries as well. With an influx of federal dollars into the project, hopefully the LAIC's goals will quickly come to fruition," Johnson said.

In addition to securing funds for the Madison Industrial Park, over the years Senator Johnson secured $250,000 for Madison's Heartland Technology Center, an incubator project intended to nurture high-tech business startups, and just this year Johnson secured $30 million dollars for the Lewis and Clark Water Project, which will eventually service the Madison community. Johnson has also been a strong supporter of the College and University Rural Education Act, which would expand programs directing resources to rural universities and encourage students to attend rural universities like Madison's Dakota State University.

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