HF 5434

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 04/30/2024 09:58am

A bill for an act
relating to housing; establishing the African American affordable homeownership
development program; appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in
Minnesota Statutes, chapter 462A.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [462A.381] AFRICAN AMERICAN WORKFORCE AND AFFORDABLE
HOMEOWNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The African American affordable homeownership
development program is established to award homeownership and workforce development
grants to cities, Tribal governments, nonprofit organizations, cooperatives created under
chapter 308A or 308B, and community land trusts created for the purposes outlined in
section 462A.31, subdivision 1, for development of affordable homeownership projects
targeted to African Americans using African Americans in the workforce. The purpose of
the program is to increase the supply of affordable, owner-occupied multifamily or
single-family housing throughout the state for African Americans using African Americans
as the production workforce.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Use of funds. new text end

new text begin (a) Grant funds awarded under this program shall be used for:
new text end

new text begin (1) land acquisition;
new text end

new text begin (2) environmental cleanup;
new text end

new text begin (3) design costs;
new text end

new text begin (4) rehabilitation costs;
new text end

new text begin (5) construction training and various job placement activities on projects funded under
this section; and
new text end

new text begin (6) affordable single-family residential housing development.
new text end

new text begin (b) Grant funds awarded under this program must be used for the following costs
associated with targeted African American affordable homeownership and workforce
development and utilization:
new text end

new text begin (1) creating or expanding African American-run business development programs;
new text end

new text begin (2) creating or expanding African American-run job training programs;
new text end

new text begin (3) creating or expanding African American-run job placement programs; and
new text end

new text begin (4) creating or expanding African American-run housing organizations' capacity to
participate in the objectives of this section.
new text end

new text begin (c) A project funded through the grant program shall serve African American households
that meet 80 percent or less of the state median income for African Americans.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Application. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall develop forms and procedures for soliciting
and reviewing applications for grants under this section. The commissioner shall consult
with interested stakeholders and African Americans selected by the Council for Minnesotans
of African Heritage when developing guidelines and procedures for the program. In making
grants, the commissioner shall establish semiannual application deadlines when grants may
be authorized from available appropriations.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; AFRICAN AMERICAN AFFORDABLE
HOMEOWNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2025 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of
housing finance for the African American affordable homeownership development program
as specified in section 1.
new text end