HF 2091

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 03/26/2015 06:22pm

A bill for an act
relating to economic development; creating a pilot program for community
design in greater Minnesota; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin DESIGN FOR GREATER MINNESOTA PILOT PROJECT.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Creation. new text end

new text begin The Center for Changing Landscapes at the University of
Minnesota shall partner with relevant organizations and greater Minnesota communities
in an initiative to design livable communities in greater Minnesota. The initiative
shall include projects to create, secure funding for, and implement economically,
environmentally, and culturally sensitive projects that respond to current community
conditions, needs, and capabilities, and provide current and future opportunities in support
of the communities as good places to live, work, and play. For the purpose of this section,
"greater Minnesota" means the area of Minnesota outside of the metropolitan area as
defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Initiative activities. new text end

new text begin Among other activities, the initiative shall:
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new text begin (1) assess community capacity to engage in design, development, and
implementation;
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new text begin (2) create community and landscape designs that respond to a community's culture
and needs, reinforce its identity as a special place, and support its future aspirations;
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new text begin (3) work with communities to develop a capacity-building strategy and a schedule
for implementing the designs;
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new text begin (4) build capacity to implement the design work by working with communities to
identify potential fund strategies, locate funding sources, and assist in the grant writing
needed to secure project funding;
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new text begin (5) create how-to-build drawings that are understandable for Minnesota Conservation
Corps or community group use;
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new text begin (6) create graphic designs for sites and Web-based materials for community use; and
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new text begin (7) support the objectives of the Minnesota Conservation Corps youth and young
adult programs by partnering with the corps to implement community projects.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $500,000 in fiscal year 2016 is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of employment and economic development for a grant to the Center for
Changing Landscapes at the University of Minnesota for the purpose of section 1. This is
a onetime appropriation.
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