The Minneapolis Public Housing Authority will receive $10.6 million in aid for major, large-scale improvements in its housing units, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)announced today.The funds can be used for projects like construction of new roofs, or energy efficient upgrades to replace old plumbing and electrical systems, HUD said in statement.

The Minneapolis grant is the largest in $28 million in grants that HUD said it is allotting to housing authorities across Minnesota. The St. Paul Public Housing Agency received the next largest grant of $6 milllion, followed by Duluth, with $1.4 million. The smallest grant of $12,370 went to the Cass County.

"These grants are essential in helping the housing authorities in Minnesota preserve public housing in the best shape possible," said Antonio R. Riley, HUD's midwest regional administrator, in a news release. HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan said the funding "will help housing authorities address long-standing capital improvements, but it only scratches the surface in addressing the deep backlog we're seeing across the country."