1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to economic development; providing assistance for small business 
1.3 	development; appropriating money;amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 
1.4 	116J.68, by adding a subdivision.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 116J.68, is amended by adding a 
1.7 	subdivision to read:
1.8 		Subd. 6.Strategic plan. Each small business development center must complete a 
1.9 	strategic planning process to better match client needs and services. At a minimum, 
1.10 	the planning process must identify the types of businesses and entrepreneurs the small 
1.11 	business development center is best able to serve and the types of services it is most 
1.12 	qualified to provide. Each small business development center must share its strategic 
1.13 	focus with its partners throughout its service area.

1.14 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATIONS; SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.
 1.15 	(a) $577,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of 
1.16 	employment and economic development for fiscal year 2009 for the small business 
1.17 	development centers (SBDC) under Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.68, to expand the 
1.18 	services offered, including expanded consulting services, improvement of online services 
1.19 	and information, and enhanced marketing of the services of the small business centers, 
1.20 	and to achieve SBDC technology accreditation under paragraph (b). $577,000 each year is 
1.21 	added to the department's base for the small business development centers beginning in 
1.22 	fiscal year 2010. Appropriations in this section are in addition to appropriations for the 
1.23 	same purpose in Laws 2007, chapter 135.
2.1 	(b) Minnesota small business development centers must seek technology 
2.2 	accreditation according to the Association of Small Business Development Centers 
2.3 	(ASBDC) technology accreditation standards. The accreditation process must be 
2.4 	completed within one year of the effective date of this act.