SF 684

1st Engrossment - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 02:14am

A bill for an act
relating to economic development; expanding bioscience business development
public infrastructure grant program; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
116J.435, subdivisions 2, 3.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 116J.435, subdivision 2, is amended to
read:

Subd. 2.

Definitions.

For purposes of this section:

(1) "local governmental unit" means a county, city, town, special district, new text begin public
higher education institution, new text end or other political subdivision or public corporation;

(2) "governing body" means the council, board of commissioners, board of trustees,
new text begin board of regents, new text end or other body charged with governing a local governmental unit;

(3) "public infrastructure" means publicly owned physical infrastructure in this state,
including, but not limited to, wastewater collection and treatment systems, drinking water
systems, storm sewers, utility extensions, telecommunications infrastructure, streets,
roads, bridges, parking ramps, facilities that support basic science and clinical research,
and research infrastructure; and

(4) "eligible project" means a bioscience business development capital improvement
project in this state, including: manufacturing; technology; warehousing and distribution;
research and development; bioscience business incubator; agricultural bioprocessing; or
industrial, office, or research park development that would be used by a bioscience-based
business.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 116J.435, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Grant program established.

(a) The commissioner shall make
competitive grants to local governmental units to acquire and prepare land on which
public infrastructure required to support an eligible project will be located, including
demolition of structures and remediation of any hazardous conditions on the land, or to
predesign, design, acquire, construct, furnish, and equip public infrastructure required to
support an eligible project. The local governmental unit receiving a grant must provide for
the remainder of the public infrastructure costs new text begin from other sources new text end .

(b) The amount of a grant may not exceed the lesser of the cost of the public
infrastructure or 50 percent of the sum of the cost of the public infrastructure plus the cost
of the completed eligible project.

(c) The purpose of the program is to keep or enhance jobs in the area, increase the
tax base, or to expand or create new economic development through the growth of new
bioscience businesses and organizations.