WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is taking his “year of action” tour to Minnesota, heading to St. Paul on Wednesday to announce a new competition encouraging investments to create jobs and restore infrastructure.

Obama will be speaking at St. Paul’s newly renovated Union Depot transportation hub.

The White House did not provide further details of the competition but described it as part of the president’s “year of action,” a series of policy initiatives the White House is undertaking without the help of Congress.

Last week, for example, Obama touted increased fuel efficiency standards for trucks at a Safeway distribution center in Maryland, highlighting steps the grocery store chain has taken to use less fuel in its fleet of trucks.