SF 2722

1st Engrossment - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 04/07/2016 09:44am

A bill for an act
relating to economic development; establishing a greater Minnesota brain
gain regional workforce and community development pilot grant program;
appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin GREATER MINNESOTA WORKFORCE AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT PILOT GRANT PROGRAM.
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new text begin (a) The commissioner of employment and economic development shall establish
a greater Minnesota brain gain regional workforce and community development pilot
grant program to provide grants in equal amounts to eligible organizations to identify and
support local economic development initiatives in greater Minnesota designed to attract
workers and new residents by marketing regional assets through enhanced digital content.
Up to ....... percent of a grant may be used for administrative costs.
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new text begin (b) For the purposes of this section, "eligible organization" means a regional
development commission, or regional initiative foundation in regions of the state where no
regional development commission operates, which meets the following criteria:
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new text begin (1) the organization operates in a county with no more than 60,000 residents based
on the most recent United States Census data;
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new text begin (2) the organization can demonstrate the existence of local economic development
initiatives within the organization's service area operating to attract new workers and
residents by marketing regional assets through enhanced digital content; and
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new text begin (3) the organization can demonstrate that communities, including counties, cities, or
towns, located in the organization's service area:
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new text begin (i) are engaged in collaborative regional marketing efforts to increase the online
presence of the communities;
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new text begin (ii) have developed and are currently operating active social media outreach
campaigns promoting a progressive business climate and targeting industries identified as
desirable; and
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new text begin (iii) can demonstrate that outreach efforts are creating interest in the region and
promoting the area by working to attract new businesses, growing existing businesses, and
expanding the local workforce.
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new text begin (c) A regional development commission or regional initiative foundation selected
to participate in the pilot program may award funds to counties that meet the population
limit established under paragraph (b), clause (1), two or more cities or towns, or a tribe
that joins at least one county, city, or town within a county, meeting that population
limit through a competitive grant process. Communities eligible to apply to a regional
development commission or regional initiative foundation for funding must:
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new text begin (1) demonstrate the existence of regional economic development initiatives within
their boundaries that are working to attract workers and new residents by marketing
through enhanced digital content;
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new text begin (2) not exceed the population limit established under paragraph (b), clause (1);
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new text begin (3) demonstrate participation in collaborative regional marketing efforts to increase
the online presence of the community;
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new text begin (4) demonstrate they have developed active social media outreach campaigns
promoting a progressive business climate and targeting industries identified as desirable;
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new text begin (5) demonstrate that outreach efforts are: creating interest in the region; promoting
the area in attracting new businesses and growing existing businesses; and working to
expand the local workforce.
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new text begin (d) Grants available under this section may be used for the following purposes:
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new text begin (1) operating costs, including but not limited to staff, office space, computers,
software, travel, and Web development and maintenance services;
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new text begin (2) organization of local support and collaborative activities to train and mobilize
participants to become community ambassadors through the digital platforms;
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new text begin (3) construction and maintenance of social media infrastructure; and
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new text begin (4) Web development and maintenance including service contracts with vendors
having at least three years' prior economic development related marketing and Web
construction management experience, at least six current economic development clients,
and who have demonstrated a strong background in working to increase the online profile
of local governments. Preference must be given to Minnesota-based contractors having at
least three years of economic development marketing experience. Any final Web solution
must be integrated with the Minnesota LocationOne Information System or its successor.
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new text begin (e) Any grant award under this section must be matched with nonstate resources
at a level of 25 percent.
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new text begin (f) By January 1, 2017, grant recipients shall report to the commissioner on the
use of grant funds and:
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new text begin (1) Web site creation and Web interactions;
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new text begin (2) the number of contacts with businesses, local economic developers, and other
relevant contacts made through social media infrastructure; and
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new text begin (3) identify the type and quality of social media measures implemented using grant
funds.
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new text begin (g) By February 15, 2017, the commissioner shall report to the chairs and ranking
minority members of the committees of the house of representatives and the senate
having jurisdiction over economic development issues on the information reported under
paragraph (f).
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2017 is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of employment and economic development for the greater Minnesota brain
gain regional workforce and community development pilot grant program established in
section 1. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2019.
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