SF 2375

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/03/2023 09:39am

A bill for an act
relating to economic development; appropriating money for the fitness industry
recovery grant program; requiring a report.

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

Section 1. new text begin FITNESS INDUSTRY RECOVERY GRANT PROGRAM.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. 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.
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new text begin (b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of employment and economic development.
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new text begin (c) "Eligible business" means a business that:
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new text begin (1) is a yoga or fitness studio;
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new text begin (2) as of January 1, 2022, was registered to pay unemployment tax to the commissioner
under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 268;
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new text begin (3) employs the equivalent of 20 full-time employees or less at the time of application;
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new text begin (4) had revenue of less than $250,000 in 2022; and
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new text begin (5) did not receive a payment under Laws 2020, Seventh Special Session chapter 2,
article 1.
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new text begin (d) "Program" means the fitness industry recovery grant program created in this section.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall establish a fitness industry recovery
grant program to help eligible businesses recover from the economic setbacks of the
COVID-19 pandemic.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Grants to eligible businesses. new text end

new text begin (a) Eligible businesses shall apply for grants
using an application and process designed by the commissioner.
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new text begin (b) Grants shall be made on a rolling basis starting on September 1, 2023.
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new text begin (c) Grants shall be for $15,000 per eligible business.
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new text begin (d) Grants and the process of making grants under this section are exempt from the
following statutes and related policies: Minnesota Statutes, sections 16A.15, subdivision 3;
16B.97; 16B.98, subdivisions 5, 7, and 8; and 116J.993 to 116J.995.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Report to the legislature. new text end

new text begin By January 15, 2025, the commissioner must submit
a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the committees of the house of
representatives and the senate having jurisdiction over economic development that details
the distribution of grant funds.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $1,500,000 in fiscal year 2024 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of employment and economic development for the fitness industry recovery grant program.
new text end