The House Appropriations Committee released details Thursday about an $850 billion stimulus package crafted by congressional Democrats and President-elect Barack Obama. The package includes a hefty bit of infrastructure spending as well as relief for taxpayers earning under $200,000 a year. So, what might it mean for Minnesota?

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill (pdf) includes a few initiatives that could bring relief to many areas of the state. Here are some highlights:

Minnesota Rep. James Oberstar, chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was “pleased to see that many of the recommendations he and his committee have made have been adopted in this draft of the bill.” The transportation section includes $90 billion “to create jobs rebuilding our crumbling roads and bridges, modernize public buildings, and put people to work cleaning our air, water and land.”

Greater Minnesota might see some relief through new agriculture programs. Nationwide, agricultural research facilities would see $209 million. Minnesota’s emerging biofuels industry could get a portion of $8 billion in loans for renewable energy, and rural businesses could take advantage of $100 million in grants and $2 billion in loans.

With numerous commuter rail and light rail lines planned for the Twin Cities, part of $1 billion set aside for transit construction spending could speed up those plans.

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system should pay attention to the plan’s $79 billion in state fiscal relief “to prevent cutbacks to key services” and a $15.6 billion infusion into the Pell grants program. Biomedical research, a key driver in Minnesota’s economy, would get a $2 billion boost, with $1.5 billion targeted at increasing employment in that sector. Another $600 million would go to pandemic influenza research. University biomedical research facilities would get $1.5 billion for updates and improvements.

Breaks for those of us who aren’t biomedical researchers or college students? Minnesotans making less than $200,000 a year would see a tax cuts of $500 for individuals and $1,000 for married couples. People who bought homes after April 2008 would see a $7,500 tax refund as part of a move to stimulate the real estate market.