HF 2068

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/15/2021 04:58pm

A bill for an act
relating to economic development; appropriating money for entrepreneurial
development; requiring a report.

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

Section 1. new text begin ASSISTANCE TO ENTREPRENEURS; APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin (a) $175,000 in fiscal year 2022 and $175,000 in fiscal year 2023 are appropriated from
the workforce development fund to the commissioner of employment and economic
development for a grant to 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 payment of overhead costs, pre-venture assistance
for individuals considering starting a business, and services for underserved populations,
agricultural businesses, and students. Any balance in the first year does not cancel and is
available for expenditure in the second year. This is a onetime appropriation.
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new text begin (b) Grant recipients shall report to the commissioner by February 1, 2023, 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, 2023, the commissioner shall report the information
submitted by grant recipients to the chairs and ranking minority members of the standing
committees of the house of representatives and the senate having jurisdiction over economic
development issues.
new text end