Sen. Franken's Back to Work Minnesota: A Retrofit Jobs Initiative connects private and public building owners to the resources they need to upgrade their buildings for increased energy efficient. Retrofitting puts people to work at construction and manufacturing companies. It makes buildings more energy efficient, and reduces energy use and bills, and can increase the building's property value.

Sen. Franken worked with the Hibbing Chamber of Commerce, the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board, and the Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency to set up a new retrofit program that secures low-interest loans for retrofit projects. Sen. Franken recently visited Carpet Plaza, which is the first Hibbing business to benefit from the program. A recent story in the Hibbing Daily Tribune highlights the program's effectiveness:

Franken was excited to see the work to be done as he toured Carpet Plaza and looked at the current lighting, windows and door. Franken seeks to encourage more retrofitting efforts throughout the state, he said.

The Carpet Plaza project includes updates to lighting, windows, doors and insulation. It has an estimated payback period of seven years, Lundin said.

...

The improvements will end up saving her business money in the end through energy efficiency, and the project overall will add visual appeal to downtown Hibbing, she said.

You can read the whole article at the Hibbing Daily Tribune here and read more about Sen. Franken's Back to Work Minnesota Initiative here.