WINONA, Minn. – The Winona Port Authority approved $460,000 for a Mississippi riverfront project for large passenger boats at Levee Park. The project already was in line for $4.1 million in state funds. Among improvements is replacing current tie-up cleats that are too small for large tourist boats. Many cleats are broken off. The Port Authority mission is to encourage economic development and expand the city’s tax base. Among other 2024 budget allocations:
> Prairie Island campground. The first $145,000 debt payment on placing the welcome center above the floodplain, and also building new camp store and showers.
> Max Conrad airfield. A final $125,000 debt payment for 2013 airport improvements.
> Riverbend brownfields. About $25,000 to clean up Riverbend Technology and Industrial Park on the Far East End for pending projects. Already lined up is $600,00 in state funds.
Most of the new funding will be covered by shuffling money internally, as well as an 8.8% increase of $560,000 in the Port Authority’s tax levy, which would be drawn from the general tax base.