SF 1539

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 03/05/2020 09:34am

A bill for an act
relating to rural development; creating a statewide resource for community design
and economic development in greater Minnesota; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin GREATER MINNESOTA FUTURES.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Creation. new text end

new text begin The Minnesota Design Center at the University of Minnesota
shall partner with relevant organizations and greater Minnesota communities to establish a
program for community development. The program shall identify current and future
opportunities for rural development, create designs, seek funding from existing sources,
and assist with the implementation of economically, environmentally, and culturally sensitive
strategies that respond to current community conditions, needs, capabilities, and aspirations
in support of the communities as good places to live, work, and play. For the purposes 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.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Project activities. new text end

new text begin Among other activities, the program, in partnership with
relevant organizations and greater Minnesota communities, shall:
new text end

new text begin (1) assess community capacity to engage in design, development, and implementation;
new text end

new text begin (2) create community strategies and project 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) create an implementation strategy;
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new text begin (4) build capacity to implement design work by identifying potential funding strategies
and sources and assisting in grant writing to secure funding;
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new text begin (5) create graphic designs for community use; and
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new text begin (6) work with other greater Minnesota programs to implement those community projects
appropriate to their mission.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Appropriation. new text end

new text begin $500,000 is appropriated in fiscal year 2020 from the general
fund to the commissioner of employment and economic development for a grant to the
Minnesota Design Center at the University of Minnesota for the purpose of the greater
Minnesota community design program in this section.
new text end