HF 703

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 02/04/2021 03:05pm

A bill for an act
relating to economic development; repurposing an unexpended appropriation for
wastewater infrastructure in Rosemount; amending Laws 2017, chapter 94, article
1, section 2, subdivision 2, as amended.

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

Section 1.

Laws 2017, chapter 94, article 1, section 2, subdivision 2, as amended by Laws
2017, First Special Session chapter 7, section 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2. Business and Community Development

$

46,074,000

$

40,935,000

Appropriations by Fund
General	$43,363,000	$38,424,000
Remediation	$700,000	$700,000
Workforce Development	$1,861,000	$1,811,000
Special Revenue	$150,000	-0-

(a) $4,195,000 each year is for the Minnesota
job skills partnership program under
Minnesota Statutes, sections 116L.01 to
116L.17. If the appropriation for either year
is insufficient, the appropriation for the other
year is available. This appropriation is
available until spent.

(b) $750,000 each year is for grants to the
Neighborhood Development Center for small
business programs:

(1) training, lending, and business services;

(2) model outreach and training in greater
Minnesota; and

(3) development of new business incubators.

This is a onetime appropriation.

(c) $1,175,000 each year is for a grant to the
Metropolitan Economic Development
Association (MEDA) for statewide business
development and assistance services, including
services to entrepreneurs with businesses that
have the potential to create job opportunities
for unemployed and underemployed people,
with an emphasis on minority-owned
businesses. This is a onetime appropriation.

(d) $125,000 each year is for a grant to the
White Earth Nation for the White Earth Nation
Integrated Business Development System to
provide business assistance with workforce
development, outreach, technical assistance,
infrastructure and operational support,
financing, and other business development
activities. This is a onetime appropriation.

(e)(1) $12,500,000 each year is for the
Minnesota investment fund under Minnesota
Statutes, section 116J.8731. Of this amount,
the commissioner of employment and
economic development may use up to three
percent for administration and monitoring of
the program. This appropriation is available
until spent.

(2) Of the amount appropriated in fiscal year
2018, $4,000,000 is for a loan to construct and
equip a wholesale electronic component
distribution center investing a minimum of
$200,000,000 and constructing a facility at
least 700,000 square feet in size. Loan funds
may be used for purchases of materials,
supplies, and equipment for the construction
of the facility and are available from July 1,
2017, to June 30, 2021. The commissioner of
employment and economic development shall
forgive the loan after verification that the
project has satisfied performance goals and
contractual obligations as required under
Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.8731.

(3) Of the amount appropriated in fiscal year
2018, $700,000 is for a deleted text begin loan to extend an
effluent pipe that will deliver reclaimed water
to an innovative waste-to-biofuel project
investing a minimum of $150,000,000 and
constructing a facility that is designed to
process approximately 400,000 tons of waste
annually. Loan deleted text end new text begin grant to the Metropolitan
Council under Minnesota Statutes, section
116.195, for wastewater infrastructure to
support industrial users in Rosemount that
require significant water use. Grant new text end funds are
available until June 30, deleted text begin 2021 deleted text end new text begin 2025 new text end .

(f) $8,500,000 each year is for the Minnesota
job creation fund under Minnesota Statutes,
section 116J.8748. Of this amount, the
commissioner of employment and economic
development may use up to three percent for
administrative expenses. This appropriation
is available until expended. In fiscal year 2020
and beyond, the base amount is $8,000,000.

(g) $1,647,000 each year is for contaminated
site cleanup and development grants under
Minnesota Statutes, sections 116J.551 to
116J.558. This appropriation is available until
spent. In fiscal year 2020 and beyond, the base
amount is $1,772,000.

(h) $12,000 each year is for a grant to the
Upper Minnesota Film Office.

(i) $163,000 each year is for the Minnesota
Film and TV Board. The appropriation in each
year is available only upon receipt by the
board of $1 in matching contributions of
money or in-kind contributions from nonstate
sources for every $3 provided by this
appropriation, except that each year up to
$50,000 is available on July 1 even if the
required matching contribution has not been
received by that date.

(j) $500,000 each year is from the general fund
for a grant to the Minnesota Film and TV
Board for the film production jobs program
under Minnesota Statutes, section 116U.26.
This appropriation is available until June 30,
2021.

(k) $139,000 each year is for a grant to the
Rural Policy and Development Center under
Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.421.

(l)(1) $1,300,000 each year is for the greater
Minnesota business development public
infrastructure grant program under Minnesota
Statutes, section 116J.431. This appropriation
is available until spent. If the appropriation
for either year is insufficient, the appropriation
for the other year is available. In fiscal year
2020 and beyond, the base amount is
$1,787,000. Funds available under this
paragraph may be used for site preparation of
property owned and to be used by private
entities.

(2) Of the amounts appropriated, $1,600,000
in fiscal year 2018 is for a grant to the city of
Thief River Falls to support utility extensions,
roads, and other public improvements related
to the construction of a wholesale electronic
component distribution center at least 700,000
square feet in size and investing a minimum
of $200,000,000. Notwithstanding Minnesota
Statutes, section 116J.431, a local match is
not required. Grant funds are available from
July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2021.

(m) $876,000 the first year and $500,000 the
second year are for the Minnesota emerging
entrepreneur loan program under Minnesota
Statutes, section 116M.18. Funds available
under this paragraph are for transfer into the
emerging entrepreneur program special
revenue fund account created under Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 116M, and are available until
spent. Of this amount, up to four percent is for
administration and monitoring of the program.
In fiscal year 2020 and beyond, the base
amount is $1,000,000.

(n) $875,000 each year is for a grant to
Enterprise Minnesota, Inc. for the small
business growth acceleration program under
Minnesota Statutes, section 116O.115. This
is a onetime appropriation.

(o) $250,000 in fiscal year 2018 is for a grant
to the Minnesota Design Center at the
University of Minnesota for the greater
Minnesota community design pilot project.

(p) $275,000 in fiscal year 2018 is from the
general fund to the commissioner of
employment and economic development for
a grant to Community and Economic
Development Associates (CEDA) for an
economic development study and analysis of
the effects of current and projected economic
growth in southeast Minnesota. CEDA shall
report on the findings and recommendations
of the study to the committees of the house of
representatives and senate with jurisdiction
over economic development and workforce
issues by February 15, 2019. All results and
information gathered from the study shall be
made available for use by cities in southeast
Minnesota by March 15, 2019. This
appropriation is available until June 30, 2020.

(q) $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2018 is for a
grant to Pillsbury United Communities for
construction and renovation of a building in
north Minneapolis for use as the "North
Market" grocery store and wellness center,
focused on offering healthy food, increasing
health care access, and providing job creation
and economic opportunities in one place for
children and families living in the area. To the
extent possible, Pillsbury United Communities
shall employ individuals who reside within a
five mile radius of the grocery store and
wellness center. This appropriation is not
available until at least an equal amount of
money is committed from nonstate sources.
This appropriation is available until the project
is completed or abandoned, subject to
Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.642.

(r) $1,425,000 each year is for the business
development competitive grant program. Of
this amount, up to five percent is for
administration and monitoring of the business
development competitive grant program. All
grant awards shall be for two consecutive
years. Grants shall be awarded in the first year.

(s) $875,000 each year is for the host
community economic development grant
program established in Minnesota Statutes,
section 116J.548.

(t) $700,000 each year is from the remediation
fund for contaminated site cleanup and
development grants under Minnesota Statutes,
sections 116J.551 to 116J.558. This
appropriation is available until spent.

(u) $161,000 each year is from the workforce
development fund for a grant to the Rural
Policy and Development Center. This is a
onetime appropriation.

(v) $300,000 each year is from the workforce
development fund for a grant to Enterprise
Minnesota, Inc. This is a onetime
appropriation.

(w) $50,000 in fiscal year 2018 is from the
workforce development fund for a grant to
Fighting Chance for behavioral intervention
programs for at-risk youth.

(x) $1,350,000 each year is from the
workforce development fund for job training
grants under Minnesota Statutes, section
116L.42.

(y)(1) $519,000 in fiscal year 2018 is for
grants to local communities to increase the
supply of quality child care providers in order
to support economic development. At least 60
percent of grant funds must go to communities
located outside of the seven-county
metropolitan area, as defined under Minnesota
Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2. Grant
recipients must obtain a 50 percent nonstate
match to grant funds in either cash or in-kind
contributions. Grant funds available under this
paragraph must be used to implement solutions
to reduce the child care shortage in the state
including but not limited to funding for child
care business start-ups or expansions, training,
facility modifications or improvements
required for licensing, and assistance with
licensing and other regulatory requirements.
In awarding grants, the commissioner must
give priority to communities that have
documented a shortage of child care providers
in the area.

(2) Within one year of receiving grant funds,
grant recipients must report to the
commissioner on the outcomes of the grant
program including but not limited to the
number of new providers, the number of
additional child care provider jobs created, the
number of additional child care slots, and the
amount of local funds invested.

(3) By January 1 of each year, starting in 2019,
the commissioner must report to the standing
committees of the legislature having
jurisdiction over child care and economic
development on the outcomes of the program
to date.

(z) $319,000 in fiscal year 2018 is from the
general fund for a grant to the East Phillips
Improvement Coalition to create the East
Phillips Neighborhood Institute (EPNI) to
expand culturally tailored resources that
address small business growth and create
green jobs. The grant shall fund the
collaborative work of Tamales y Bicicletas,
Little Earth of the United Tribes, a nonprofit
serving East Africans, and other coalition
members towards developing EPNI as a
community space to host activities including,
but not limited to, creation and expansion of
small businesses, culturally specific
entrepreneurial activities, indoor urban
farming, job training, education, and skills
development for residents of this low-income,
environmental justice designated
neighborhood. Eligible uses for grant funds
include, but are not limited to, planning and
start-up costs, staff and consultant costs,
building improvements, rent, supplies, utilities,
vehicles, marketing, and program activities.
The commissioner shall submit a report on
grant activities and quantifiable outcomes to
the committees of the house of representatives
and the senate with jurisdiction over economic
development by December 15, 2020. This
appropriation is available until June 30, 2020.

(aa) $150,000 the first year is from the
renewable development account in the special
revenue fund established in Minnesota
Statutes, section 116C.779, subdivision 1, to
conduct the biomass facility closure economic
impact study.

(bb)(1)$300,000 in fiscal year 2018 is for a
grant to East Side Enterprise Center (ESEC)
to expand culturally tailored resources that
address small business growth and job
creation. This appropriation is available until
June 30, 2020. The appropriation shall fund
the work of African Economic Development
Solutions, the Asian Economic Development
Association, the Dayton's Bluff Community
Council, and the Latino Economic
Development Center in a collaborative
approach to economic development that is
effective with smaller, culturally diverse
communities that seek to increase the
productivity and success of new immigrant
and minority populations living and working
in the community. Programs shall provide
minority business growth and capacity
building that generate wealth and jobs creation
for local residents and business owners on the
East Side of St. Paul.

(2) In fiscal year 2019 ESEC shall use funds
to share its integrated service model and
evolving collaboration principles with civic
and economic development leaders in greater
Minnesota communities which have diverse
populations similar to the East Side of St. Paul.
ESEC shall submit a report of activities and
program outcomes, including quantifiable
measures of success annually to the house of
representatives and senate committees with
jurisdiction over economic development.

(cc) $150,000 in fiscal year 2018 is for a grant
to Mille Lacs County for the purpose of
reimbursement grants to small resort
businesses located in the city of Isle with less
than $350,000 in annual revenue, at least four
rental units, which are open during both
summer and winter months, and whose
business was adversely impacted by a decline
in walleye fishing on Lake Mille Lacs.

(dd)(1) $250,000 in fiscal year 2018 is for a
grant to the Small Business Development
Center hosted at Minnesota State University,
Mankato, for a collaborative initiative with
the Regional Center for Entrepreneurial
Facilitation. Funds available under this section
must be used to provide entrepreneur and
small business development direct professional
business assistance services in the following
counties in Minnesota: Blue Earth, Brown,
Faribault, Le Sueur, Martin, Nicollet, Sibley,
Watonwan, and Waseca. For the purposes of
this section, "direct professional business
assistance services" must include, but is not
limited to, pre-venture assistance for
individuals considering starting a business.
This appropriation is not available until the
commissioner determines that an equal amount
is committed from nonstate sources. Any
balance in the first year does not cancel and
is available for expenditure in the second year.

(2) Grant recipients shall report to the
commissioner by February 1 of each year and
include information on the number of
customers served in each county; the number
of businesses started, stabilized, or expanded;
the number of jobs created and retained; and
business success rates in each county. By April
1 of each year, the commissioner shall report
the information submitted by grant recipients
to the chairs of the standing committees of the
house of representatives and the senate having
jurisdiction over economic development
issues.

(ee) $500,000 in fiscal year 2018 is for the
central Minnesota opportunity grant program
established under Minnesota Statutes, section
116J.9922. This appropriation is available until
June 30, 2022.

(ff) $25,000 each year is for the administration
of state aid for the Destination Medical Center
under Minnesota Statutes, sections 469.40 to
469.47.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective retroactively from July 1, 2017.
new text end