HF 263

as introduced - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026) Posted on 02/17/2025 04:22pm

A bill for an act
relating to workforce development; allowing a grant to Arrowhead Economic
Opportunity Agency to be used for creation of a regional hub building to provide
services; extending an appropriation of money; amending Laws 2024, chapter 120,
article 1, section 2, subdivision 3.

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

Section 1.

Laws 2024, chapter 120, article 1, section 2, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3. Employment and Training Programs

$

-0-

$

12,207,000

Appropriations by Fund
	2024	2025
General	-0-	50,000
Workforce Development	-0-	12,157,000

(a) $400,000 the second year is from the
workforce development fund for a grant to
Sabathani Community Center for specialized
community outreach and engagement, a
marketing and communication plan, program
evaluation, personal empowerment training
for men, empowerment and truancy
curriculum for youth, wellness training for
seniors, a workforce strategies mentorship and
jobs training program, a 15-passenger van,
and service kiosks for the Sabathani
Community Center, including a onetime paid
internship to support these programs. This is
a onetime appropriation.

(b) $700,000 the second year is from the
workforce development fund for a grant to the
Shakopee Chamber Foundation for the
Shakopee area workforce development
scholarship pilot program. This is a onetime
appropriation and is available until June 30,
2027. The commissioner of employment and
economic development may enter into an
interagency agreement with the Office of
Higher Education, including agreements to
transfer funds and to administer the program.

(c) $100,000 the second year is from the
workforce development fund for a grant to
Inspire Change Clinic for their health care
fellowship program designed to create
pathways to medicine for high school and
college students interested in pursuing a career
in the health care workforce. The health care
fellowship program is intended to remove
barriers for minority students, foster
inclusivity and diversity in the health care
sector, and provide valuable opportunities for
students, including mentorship programs,
access to renowned health institutions in the
state of Minnesota, and hands-on work
experience. In addition to the reporting
requirements in section 14, the commissioner
must include the number of participants served
by the grant and provide information about
program outcomes. This is a onetime
appropriation.

(d) $250,000 the second year is from the
workforce development fund for a grant to
Bolder Options Youth Mentoring Program to
provide disadvantaged youth ages 12 to 22
with intensive one-to-one wellness,
goal-setting, and academic-focused
mentorship; programming that teaches life and
job-seeking skills; career and college
achievement coaches; and connections to
employment, job training, and education
opportunities. The grant must serve youth in
the Bolder Options program in the Twin Cities
and the city of Rochester. In addition to the
reporting requirements in section 14, the
commissioner must include the number of
participants served by the grant. This is a
onetime appropriation.

(e) $1,000,000 the second year is from the
workforce development fund for a grant to
Change Starts With Community for a violence
prevention program. Grant money must be
used to establish a comprehensive workforce
development initiative, specifically tailored
for at-risk youth and adults, located on site at
Shiloh Cares Food Shelf in the city of
Minneapolis. This is a onetime appropriation.

(f) $100,000 the second year is from the
workforce development fund for a grant to
InspireMSP to develop programming to assist
middle school-aged children in Minneapolis
and St. Paul to develop an interest in and
connect with the creative industry in
Minnesota. Money must be used for program
development and career exploration in the
creative industry for historically excluded
youth by providing access to essential
resources, networks, and hands-on experience.
This is a onetime appropriation.

(g) $100,000 the second year is from the
workforce development fund for a grant to
Lake County Ambulance Service to establish
a training program for Cook County and Lake
County high school students interested in
pursuing careers as emergency medical
technicians. This is a onetime appropriation.

(h) $350,000 the second year is from the
workforce development fund for a grant to the
city of Austin to develop and implement
training programs for water operators and
wastewater operators. Riverland Community
College must offer the training programs. This
is a onetime appropriation and is available
until June 30, 2027. Of this amount, the city
of Austin may use up to five percent for
administration of the program. The
commissioner must provide an annual report
by January 5 of each year until January 5,
2028, regarding the use of grant funds under
this paragraph to the chairs and ranking
minority members of the legislative
committees with jurisdiction over economic
development and higher education. The report
must include the number of students enrolled
and number of students who have completed
courses funded by this appropriation.

(i) $250,000 the second year is from the
workforce development fund for a grant to the
Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches for
a STEM training and career preparation
program targeted at the needs of BIPOC youth.
The program shall serve youth who are at least
11 years of age and less than 24 years of age
and shall provide career training, job skills
development, mentorship, and employment
opportunities. This is a onetime appropriation
and is available until June 30, 2027.

(j) $200,000 the second year is from the
workforce development fund and is for a grant
to the Jobs Foundation for direct training,
support services, safety enhancements, and
economic support for formerly incarcerated
individuals participating in the Repowered
work readiness program. This is a onetime
appropriation.

(k) $100,000 the second year is from the
workforce development fund for a grant to the
North Minneapolis Pet Resource Center, also
known as Mypitbullisfamilycom.Inc,
Community Animal Medicine Professionals
(CAMP) program to provide training,
professional development workshops,
mentorship and leadership programs, and
develop recruitment and retention strategies.
This is a onetime appropriation.

(l) $1,000,000 the second year is from the
workforce development fund and is for a grant
to African Immigrants Community Services
for workforce development for new
Americans. This is a onetime appropriation.

(m) $1,000,000 the second year is from the
workforce development fund and is for a grant
to WomenVenture for supporting child care
providers by providing business training,
mentorship, services, and educational
materials, by facilitating shared administrative
staff and pooled management of services such
as banking and payroll, by providing child
care management software and software
training, and by distributing subgrants and
loans, which may be forgivable at
WomenVenture's discretion. This is a onetime
appropriation and is available until June 30,
2027.

(n) $1,000,000 the second year is from the
workforce development fund and is for a grant
to the Black Chamber of Commerce for
technical support to Black-owned small
businesses, for implementing initiatives to
address barriers facing the Black business
community, and for networking, mentorship,
and training programs. This is a onetime
appropriation and is available until June 30,
2027.

(o) $250,000 the second year is from the
workforce development fund and is for a grant
to the Karen Organization of Minnesota for
job training and financial support and
incentives for job training participants. This
is a onetime appropriation.

(p) $100,000 the second year is from the
workforce development fund and is for a grant
to Indigenous Roots for soft skills training and
career readiness training for youth. This is a
onetime appropriation.

(q) $100,000 the second year is from the
workforce development fund and is for a grant
to Ramsey County for a subgrant with People
in Action to provide workforce development
programming. This amount is available until
June 30, 2026, and 40 percent of the amount
must be expended within the city of St. Paul.
Grants provided by People in Action must be
awarded through at least two requests for
proposals. This is a onetime appropriation.

(r) $500,000 the second year is from the
workforce development fund and is for a grant
to the Metro Youth Diversion Center to
support its Youth-Care Assessment and
Readiness Education program to enhance
workforce development opportunities for
youth with a focus on underrepresented East
African students. This is a onetime
appropriation.

(s) $174,000 the second year is from the
workforce development fund and is for a grant
to Independent School District No. 709,
Duluth, for a software subscription to facilitate
the career planning of students. This is a
onetime appropriation.

(t) $171,000 the second year is from the
workforce development fund and is for a grant
to Independent School District No. 704,
Proctor, to develop a regional career and
technical education program to serve
Independent School District No. 704, Proctor,
Independent School District No. 700,
Hermantown, and Independent School District
No. 99, Esko. This is a onetime appropriation.

(u) $1,000,000 the second year is from the
workforce development fund and is for a grant
to the city of Brooklyn Park for the Brooklyn
Park Small Business Center and for the city
to expand the workforce development
programming of Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn
Center through workforce development
programs serving primarily underrepresented
populations, including such programs as
Brooklynk, Career Pathways, Youth
Entrepreneurship, and Community Partnership.
This is a onetime appropriation and is
available until June 30, 2027.

(v) $500,000 the second year is from the
workforce development fund and is for a grant
to Riverside Plaza Tenant Association to
address employment, economic, and
technology access disparities for low-income
unemployed or underemployed individuals
through training in health care, technology,
and construction or skilled trades industries.
This is a onetime appropriation.

(w) $300,000 the second year is from the
workforce development fund and is for a grant
to African Career, Education, and Resources,
Inc., to develop a program for health care
skills training and computer skills training in
collaboration with the Organization of
Liberians in Minnesota. This is a onetime
appropriation.

(x) $75,000 the second year is from the
workforce development fund and is for a grant
to Equitable Development Action for it to fund
programs and provide technical assistance to
underserved businesses. This is a onetime
appropriation.

(y) $50,000 the second year is from the
workforce development fund and is for a grant
to HIRPHA International for use on youth
apprenticeships, entrepreneurship training,
computer skills, and work readiness training.
This is a onetime appropriation.

(z) $200,000 the second year is from the
workforce development fund and is for a grant
to YWCA St. Paul for a strategic intervention
program designed to target and connect
program participants to meaningful,
sustainable living wage employment. This is
a onetime appropriation.

(aa) $50,000 the second year is from the
workforce development fund and is for a grant
to United Senior Lao American Association
to provide job and skills training for an
underserved population. This is a onetime
appropriation.

(bb) $100,000 the second year is from the
workforce development fund and is for a grant
to Hmong American Farmers Association for
workforce readiness, employment exploration,
and skills development. This is a onetime
appropriation.

(cc) $240,000 the second year is from the
workforce development fund and is for a grant
to MN Zej Zog for workforce readiness,
employment exploration, and skills
development. This is a onetime appropriation.

(dd) $100,000 the second year is from the
workforce development fund and is for a grant
to Ramsey County for a Justice Impact
Navigator to support Ramsey County residents
who have a justice impact or who are
reentering the community after incarceration
to connect to resources with a focus on
employment and training supports. Funds must
be used for a navigator pilot and other
administrative expenses such as outreach,
marketing, and resources for residents. This
is a onetime appropriation.

(ee) $100,000 the second year is from the
workforce development fund and is for a grant
to Ramsey County for a Digital Equity
Specialist to support Ramsey County residents
with digital literacy resources and skills to
connect to employment and training supports.
Funds must be used for a digital navigator
pilot serving in Ramsey County Career Labs
and community-based locations and other
administrative expenses, such as outreach,
marketing, and resources for residents. This
is a onetime appropriation.

(ff) $100,000 the second year is from the
workforce development fund for a grant to
Film North to attract a film festival. This is a
onetime appropriation. The commissioner of
employment and economic development may
enter into an interagency agreement with
Explore Minnesota, including agreements to
transfer funds and administer the grant.

(gg) $400,000 the second year is from the
workforce development fund for a grant to the
Twin Cities Urban League for support,
capacity building, and expansion of the Work
Readiness Program. This is a onetime
appropriation.

(hh) $500,000 the second year is from the
workforce development fund for a grant to
Arrowhead Opportunity Agency for the
purposes of expanding workforce development
opportunities deleted text begin in the region deleted text end new text begin through the creation
of a regional hub building where services can
be provided new text end . new text begin Money may be used for the costs
of acquiring and refurbishing a building to
serve as the hub. new text end This is a onetime
appropriation new text begin and is available until June 30,
2026 new text end .

(ii) $597,000 the second year is from the
workforce development fund for a grant to the
Minneapolis Downtown Council for
infrastructure and associated costs for the
Taste of Minnesota event, including but not
limited to buildout, permits, garbage services,
staffing, security, equipment rentals, signage,
and insurance. This is a onetime appropriation.
The commissioner of employment and
economic development may enter into an
interagency agreement with Explore
Minnesota, including agreements to transfer
funds and administer the grant.

(jj) $50,000 the second year is from the
general fund for a grant to Block Builders
Foundation. This appropriation must be used
for programming targeted toward at-risk youth
coaching, financial literacy education, juvenile
offender diversion programming, and
community outreach. This is a onetime
appropriation.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day after final enactment.
new text end