HF 2266

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/08/2017 11:33am

A bill for an act
relating to community development; establishing a central Minnesota opportunity
grant program; requiring reports; appropriating money; proposing coding for new
law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116J.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [116J.9922] CENTRAL MINNESOTA OPPORTUNITY GRANT
PROGRAM.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given.
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new text begin (b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of employment and economic development.
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new text begin (c) "Community initiative" means a nonprofit organization which provides services to
central Minnesota communities of color in one or more of the program areas listed in
subdivision 4, paragraph (a).
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new text begin (d) "Foundation" means the Central Minnesota Community Foundation.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall establish a central Minnesota
opportunity grant program, administered by the foundation, to identify and support
community initiatives in the St. Cloud area that enhance long-term economic self-sufficiency
by improving education, housing, and economic outcomes for central Minnesota communities
of color.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Grant to the Central Minnesota Community Foundation. new text end

new text begin The commissioner
shall award all grant funds to the foundation, which shall administer the central Minnesota
opportunity grant program. The foundation may use up to five percent of grant funds for
administrative costs.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Grants to community initiatives. new text end

new text begin (a) The foundation must award funds through
a competitive grant process to community initiatives that will provide services, either alone
or in partnership with another nonprofit organization, in one or more of the following areas:
new text end

new text begin (1) economic development, including but not limited to programs to foster
entrepreneurship or small business development;
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new text begin (2) education, including but not limited to programs to encourage civic engagement or
provide youth after-school or recreation programs; or
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new text begin (3) housing, including but not limited to, programs to prevent and respond to
homelessness or to provide access to loans or grants for housing stability and affordability.
new text end

new text begin (b) To receive grant funds, a community initiative must submit a written application to
the foundation, using a form developed by the foundation. This grant application must
include:
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new text begin (1) a description of the activities that will be funded by the grant;
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new text begin (2) an estimate of the cost of each grant activity;
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new text begin (3) the total cost of the project;
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new text begin (4) the sources and amounts of nonstate funds supplementing the grant;
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new text begin (5) how the project aims to achieve stated outcomes in areas including improved job
training; workforce development; small business support; early childhood, kindergarten
through grade 12, and higher education achievement; and access to housing, including loans;
and
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new text begin (6) any additional information requested by the foundation.
new text end

new text begin (c) In awarding grants under this subdivision, the foundation shall give weight to
applications from organizations that demonstrate:
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new text begin (1) a history of successful provision of the services listed in paragraph (a); and
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new text begin (2) a history of successful fund-raising from private sources for such services.
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new text begin (d) In evaluating grant applications, the foundation shall not consider the composition
of a community initiative's governing board.
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new text begin (e) Grant funds may be used by a community initiative for the following purposes:
new text end

new text begin (1) operating costs, including but not limited to staff, office space, computers, software,
and Web development and maintenance services;
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new text begin (2) program costs;
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new text begin (3) travel within Minnesota;
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new text begin (4) consultants directly related to and necessary for delivering services listed in paragraph
(a); and
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new text begin (5) capacity building.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Reports to the legislature. new text end

new text begin By January 15, 2019, and each January 15 thereafter
through 2022, the commissioner must submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority
members of the house of representatives and the senate committees with jurisdiction over
economic development that details the use of grant funds. This report must include data on
the number of individuals served and, to the extent practical, measures of progress toward
achieving the outcomes stated in subdivision 4, paragraph (b), clause (5).
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2018 and $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2019 are appropriated from
the general fund to the commissioner of employment and economic development for the
central Minnesota opportunity grant program established under Minnesota Statutes, section
116J.9922. These appropriations are available until June 30, 2022. Starting in fiscal year
2022, the base funding for this program shall be $0.
new text end