Early last week, Senator Mark Johnson (R-East Grand Forks) was recognized by the League of Minnesota Cities as a “Legislator of Distinction”. The honor was granted to 14 state senators and 18 state representatives this year, recognizing them individually for their leadership and efforts to aid Minnesota cities during the 2017 legislative session.

“Serving northwestern Minnesota is an honor and a privilege, so my efforts in the Senate are to serve the needs of the district I call home. This award is very nice, but my greatest joy is seeing our communities flourish because of good decisions being made at state and local levels.” said Senator Johnson, Vice-Chair of the Senate’s Agriculture, Rural Develop and Housing Finance Committee. “Working together with families, businesses, and local officials we make northwest Minnesota a community second to none.”

In his first year in public office, Senator Johnson was instrumental in securing the passage of two critical provisions in the Jobs and Economic Develop budget. Both provisions will help form a new public-private partnership with Digi-Key and help to encourage economic growth in Thief River Falls and many other cities across the region. When completed the investment is expected to create 1,000 new jobs and bring in an additional $35 million in the state’s annual payroll. 

“As a first-term legislator, Senator Johnson met with the League multiple times and was interested in provisions that would help cities with housing and economic development,” said Heather Corcoran, Member Relations Coordinator with the League of Minnesota Cities. “Senator Johnson was the chief author for the League’s workforce housing TIF bill, which was included in the tax bill that was signed into law and could be a useful tool for cities like Thief River Falls and Crookston that are having workforce housing shortages.”

Senator Mark Johnson (R-East Grand Forks) is serving his first term in the Minnesota State Senate representing Senate District 1, which includes communities in Kittson, Marshall, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake and Roseau counties. Senator Johnson is the Vice Chair of the Agriculture Rural Development and Housing Finance Committee.