SF 1565

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 02/28/2017 10:00am

A bill for an act
relating to economic development; establishing a greater Minnesota workforce
opportunity grant pilot program; requiring reports; appropriating money; proposing
coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116J.

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

Section 1.

[116J.8756] GREATER MINNESOTA WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITY
GRANT PILOT PROGRAM.

Subdivision 1.

Establishment.

The commissioner of employment and economic
development shall establish a greater Minnesota workforce opportunity grant pilot program
to award grants to community economic development initiatives in greater Minnesota
designed to attract new business, workers, and residents by marketing regional assets through
enhanced digital content.

Subd. 2.

Definitions.

(a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the
meanings given.

(b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of employment and economic development.

(c) "Community" means a county; two or more cities or towns working jointly; or a tribe
working jointly with at least one county, city, or town.

Subd. 3.

Grants to communities.

(a) The commissioner must award grants to
communities through a competitive grant process.

(b) To receive grant funds, a community must submit a written application to the
commissioner, using a form developed by the commissioner, demonstrating that the
community is:

(1) in a county with no more than 60,000 residents based on the most recent United
States Census data; and

(2) currently participating in collaborative regional marketing efforts to attract new
business, workers, and residents to the community using enhanced digital content and active
social media outreach.

(c) A community's grant application must also include:

(1) a description of the activities that will be funded by the grant;

(2) an estimate of the cost of each grant activity;

(3) a list of any vendors the community is considering contracting with to conduct
specific activities;

(4) the total cost of the project;

(5) the sources and amounts of matching funds supplementing the grant; and

(6) any additional information requested by the commissioner.

(d) Grant funds may be used by a community for the following purposes:

(1) operating costs, including but not limited to staff, office space, computers, software,
travel, and Web development and maintenance services;

(2) organization of local support and training and mobilization of online community
ambassadors;

(3) construction and maintenance of social media infrastructure; and

(4) Web development and maintenance including service contracts with vendors.

Subd. 4.

Web development; vendors.

(a) A community may contract with a vendor for
Web development and maintenance services funded by a grant under subdivision 3 only if
the vendor has:

(1) at least three years' prior economic development related marketing and Web
construction management experience;

(2) a minimum of six current economic development clients; and

(3) demonstrated success in improving the online profile of local governments.

(b) Except in counties on the borders of the state, preference must be given to
Minnesota-based contractors.

(c) Any final Web solution must be integrated with the Minnesota LocationOne
Information System or its successor.

Subd. 5.

Limitation.

Any grant award under subdivision 3 must be matched with nonstate
funds at a level of 25 percent of the grant amount.

Subd. 6.

Reports to legislature.

(a) By January 1, 2018, grant recipient communities
must each submit a written report to the commissioner on the use of grant funds, including:

(1) Web site creation and Web interactions;

(2) the number of contacts made through social media with businesses, local economic
developers, and other relevant parties; and

(3) the type and quality of social media actions implemented using grant funds.

(b) By February 15, 2018, the commissioner must submit a written report on the
information reported under paragraph (a) to the chairs and ranking minority members of
the legislative committees having jurisdiction over economic development.

EFFECTIVE DATE.

This section is effective the day following final enactment.

Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.

$5,000,000 in fiscal year 2018 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of employment and economic development for the greater Minnesota workforce opportunity
grant pilot program established under Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.8756. This is a
onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2020.

EFFECTIVE DATE.

This section is effective the day following final enactment.