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SF 1565

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

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.
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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.

new text begin [116J.8756] GREATER MINNESOTA WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITY
GRANT PILOT PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin 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.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

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

new text begin (b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of employment and economic development.
new text end

new text begin (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.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Grants to communities. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner must award grants to
communities through a competitive grant process.
new text end

new text begin (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:
new text end

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

new text begin (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.
new text end

new text begin (c) A community's grant application must also include:
new text end

new text begin (1) a description of the activities that will be funded by the grant;
new text end

new text begin (2) an estimate of the cost of each grant activity;
new text end

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

new text begin (4) the total cost of the project;
new text end

new text begin (5) the sources and amounts of matching funds supplementing the grant; and
new text end

new text begin (6) any additional information requested by the commissioner.
new text end

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

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

new text begin (2) organization of local support and training and mobilization of online community
ambassadors;
new text end

new text begin (3) construction and maintenance of social media infrastructure; and
new text end

new text begin (4) Web development and maintenance including service contracts with vendors.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Web development; vendors. new text end

new text begin (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:
new text end

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

new text begin (2) a minimum of six current economic development clients; and
new text end

new text begin (3) demonstrated success in improving the online profile of local governments.
new text end

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

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

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Limitation. new text end

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

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Reports to legislature. new text end

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

new text begin (1) Web site creation and Web interactions;
new text end

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

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

new text begin (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.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $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.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end