1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to employment; establishing a grant program to help low-income, 
1.3 	low-skilled individuals enter the workforce; appropriating money.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. WORKFORCE ON-RAMP GRANT PROGRAM; APPROPRIATION.
 1.6 	$4,000,000 in fiscal year 2016 is appropriated from the general fund to the 
1.7 	commissioner of employment and economic development to develop, implement, and 
1.8 	administer a grant program for grants to community-based organizations to meet the needs 
1.9 	of low-income, low-skilled workers. Grant recipients shall provide culturally specific: 
1.10 	short-term training; work experience; and wraparound supports to help low-income, 
1.11 	low-skilled individuals enter the workforce. The commissioner must make grant awards 
1.12 	competitively through an open and public process and must develop grant application 
1.13 	criteria that ensure awards are targeted to individuals facing significant barriers to 
1.14 	employment including, but not limited to, long-term unemployment, criminal records, 
1.15 	limited English proficiency, disability, and undereducation.