Expansion at Mall of America Means Jobs for 49ers
Local 49 Political Team Credited with Helping to put 49ers to Work
Members of the International Union of Operating Engineers - Local 49 got encouraging news earlier this month when plans for expansion at the Mall of America cleared their last big hurdle with a 7-0 approval vote by the Bloomington City Council.
The $90 million Mall of America Phase II project calls for the construction of a 500-room hotel and conference center and more retail space just north of the current mall property. Construction is slated to begin in December and last approximately two years, using thousands of man hours of labor in the process. Click here for more information about the proposed expansion.
“I can’t think of a better way to begin 2011 than a project of this magnitude and scale,” said Glen Johnson, business manager of Local 49. “Since the completion of TCF Bank Stadium and Target Field, many of our members have been challenged to find long-term work in this economy. This project is a positive step.”
Johnson credits the work of Local 49’s political team who teamed with lawmakers to ensure 49ers would have projects to work on. “Without the work of our team at the capitol and the support of Speaker of the House Margaret Kelliher, a jobs bill that essentially puts a big project like the Mall of America Phase II in motion, would not have happened,” he said.
The jobs bill encourages cities and developers to initiate construction with incentives that create better financing in a tight economy.
The good news for 49ers doesn’t stop there. Rochester-based Mayo Clinic is close to finalizing a deal that would put a Gateway Clinic in the expansion plans for the Mall of
“All of this potential is cause for great optimism,” said Johnson. “Hopefully all the last minute details get ironed out and we can put our members to work.”