SF 2111

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/15/2017 08:37am

A bill for an act
relating to economic development; creating the snow angel grant program to fund
capital improvements to skiing-related businesses; appropriating money.

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

Section 1.

SNOW ANGEL GRANT PROGRAM.

Subdivision 1.

Establishment.

The commissioner of employment and economic
development shall establish a snow angel grant program to award grants to ski facilities for
needed capital improvements designed to have positive regional economic impacts. In
establishing this program, the commissioner shall consult with representatives of
organizations that promote and support ski sports in Minnesota, including the Minnesota
Ski Areas Association and the Friends of American Ski Jumping.

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) "Eligible business" means a ski facility.

(d) "Proposed project" means a capital improvement to a skiing-related business, including
but not limited to expansion to increase capacity, technology improvement, safety
enhancement, replacement or upgrade of aging infrastructure, maintenance, or development
of year-round outdoor activities at an existing site.

Subd. 3.

Grants to eligible businesses.

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

(b) To receive grant funds, an eligible business must submit a written application to the
commissioner, using a form developed by the commissioner, demonstrating the potential
regional economic impact of the proposed project, as calculated by a standard method to
be chosen by the commissioner.

(c) An eligible business's grant application must also include:

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

(2) an explanation of the necessity of the proposed project;

(3) an estimate of the cost of the proposed project;

(4) the sources and amounts of nonstate funds and in-kind contributions supplementing
the grant;

(5) if the eligible business is within 75 miles of another skiing-related business,
information on the economic impact of the proposed project on that adjacent business; and

(6) any additional information requested by the commissioner.

Subd. 4.

Award criteria.

(a) In awarding grants under this section, the commissioner
shall:

(1) require at least some nonstate money be committed to the proposed project;

(2) favor applications that have the greatest regional economic impact under subdivision
3, paragraph (b), relative to the size of the grant requested, after adjusting for any negative
impact on adjacent businesses under subdivision 3, paragraph (c), clause (5); and

(3) favor applications that have the greatest portion of the estimated cost met through
nonstate funds and in-kind contributions.

(b) To the extent practical, at least 70 percent of grant funds each year must be awarded
to projects located outside the 11-county metropolitan area, as defined in Minnesota Statutes,
section 200.02, subdivision 24.

Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.

$4,000,000 in fiscal year 2018 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of employment and economic development for the snow angel grant program under section
1. Of these funds, up to $75,000 may be used by the commissioner for program
administration. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2021.