SF 2111

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/15/2017 08:37am

A bill for an act
relating to economic development; creating the snow angel grant program to fund
capital improvements to skiing-related businesses; appropriating money.

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

Section 1.

new text begin SNOW ANGEL GRANT PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of employment and economic
development shall establish a snow angel grant program to award grants to ski facilities for
needed capital improvements designed to have positive regional economic impacts. In
establishing this program, the commissioner shall consult with representatives of
organizations that promote and support ski sports in Minnesota, including the Minnesota
Ski Areas Association and the Friends of American Ski Jumping.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. 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 ski facility.
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new text begin (d) "Proposed project" means a capital improvement to a skiing-related business, including
but not limited to expansion to increase capacity, technology improvement, safety
enhancement, replacement or upgrade of aging infrastructure, maintenance, or development
of year-round outdoor activities at an existing site.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Grants to eligible businesses. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner must award grants to
eligible businesses through a competitive grant process.
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new text begin (b) To receive grant funds, an eligible business must submit a written application to the
commissioner, using a form developed by the commissioner, demonstrating the potential
regional economic impact of the proposed project, as calculated by a standard method to
be chosen by the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin (c) An eligible business's grant application must also include:
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new text begin (1) a description of the proposed project that will be funded by the grant;
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new text begin (2) an explanation of the necessity of the proposed project;
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new text begin (3) an estimate of the cost of the proposed project;
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new text begin (4) the sources and amounts of nonstate funds and in-kind contributions supplementing
the grant;
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new text begin (5) if the eligible business is within 75 miles of another skiing-related business,
information on the economic impact of the proposed project on that adjacent business; and
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new text begin (6) any additional information requested by the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Award criteria. new text end

new text begin (a) In awarding grants under this section, the commissioner
shall:
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new text begin (1) require at least some nonstate money be committed to the proposed project;
new text end

new text begin (2) favor applications that have the greatest regional economic impact under subdivision
3, paragraph (b), relative to the size of the grant requested, after adjusting for any negative
impact on adjacent businesses under subdivision 3, paragraph (c), clause (5); and
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new text begin (3) favor applications that have the greatest portion of the estimated cost met through
nonstate funds and in-kind contributions.
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new text begin (b) To the extent practical, at least 70 percent of grant funds each year must be awarded
to projects located outside the 11-county metropolitan area, as defined in Minnesota Statutes,
section 200.02, subdivision 24.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $4,000,000 in fiscal year 2018 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of employment and economic development for the snow angel grant program under section
1. Of these funds, up to $75,000 may be used by the commissioner for program
administration. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2021.
new text end