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Key: (1) language to be deleted (2) new language

CHAPTER 112--H.F.No. 4602

An act

relating to economic development; modifying conditions for forgiveness of a loan from the Minnesota investment fund;

amending Laws 2019, First Special Session chapter 7, article 1, section 2, subdivision 2, as amended.

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

Section 1.

Laws 2019, First Special Session chapter 7, article 1, section 2, subdivision 2, as amended by Laws 2019, First Special Session chapter 12, section 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Business and Community Development

44,931,000 42,381,000
Appropriations by Fund
General 40,756,000 38,206,000
Remediation 700,000 700,000
Workforce Development 3,475,000 3,475,000

(a) $1,787,000 each year is for the greater Minnesota business development public infrastructure grant program under Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.431. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2023.

(b) $1,425,000 each year is for the business development competitive grant program. Of this amount, up to five percent is for administration and monitoring of the business development competitive grant program. All grant awards shall be for two consecutive years. Grants shall be awarded in the first year.

(c) $1,772,000 each year is for contaminated site cleanup and development grants under Minnesota Statutes, sections 116J.551 to 116J.558. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2023.

(d) $700,000 each year is from the remediation fund for contaminated site cleanup and development grants under Minnesota Statutes, sections 116J.551 to 116J.558. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2023.

(e) $139,000 each year is for the Center for Rural Policy and Development.

(f) $25,000 each year is for the administration of state aid for the Destination Medical Center under Minnesota Statutes, sections 469.40 to 469.47.

(g) $875,000 each year is for the host community economic development program established in Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.548.

(h) $125,000 each year is from the workforce development fund for a grant to the White Earth Nation for the White Earth Nation Integrated Business Development System to provide business assistance with workforce development, outreach, technical assistance, infrastructure and operational support, financing, and other business development activities. This is a onetime appropriation.

(i) $450,000 each year is from the workforce development fund for a grant to Enterprise Minnesota, Inc. for the small business growth acceleration program under Minnesota Statutes, section 116O.115. This is a onetime appropriation.

(j) $250,000 the first year is for a grant to the Rondo Community Land Trust for improvements to leased commercial space in the Selby Milton Victoria Project that will create long-term affordable space for small businesses and for build-out and development of new businesses.

(k) $400,000 each year is from the workforce development fund for a grant to the Metropolitan Economic Development Association (MEDA) for statewide business development and assistance services, including services to entrepreneurs with businesses that have the potential to create job opportunities for unemployed and underemployed people, with an emphasis on minority-owned businesses. This is a onetime appropriation.

(l) $750,000 in fiscal year 2020 is for grants to local communities to increase the supply of quality child care providers to support economic development. At least 60 percent of grant funds must go to communities located outside of the seven-county metropolitan area as defined under Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2. Grant recipients must obtain a 50 percent nonstate match to grant funds in either cash or in-kind contributions. Grant funds available under this section must be used to implement projects to reduce the child care shortage in the state, including but not limited to funding for child care business start-ups or expansion, training, facility modifications or improvements required for licensing, and assistance with licensing and other regulatory requirements. In awarding grants, the commissioner must give priority to communities that have demonstrated a shortage of child care providers in the area. This is a onetime appropriation. Within one year of receiving grant funds, grant recipients must report to the commissioner on the outcomes of the grant program, including but not limited to the number of new providers, the number of additional child care provider jobs created, the number of additional child care slots, and the amount of cash and in-kind local funds invested.

(m) $750,000 in fiscal year 2020 is for a grant to the Minnesota Initiative Foundations. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2023. The Minnesota Initiative Foundations must use grant funds under this section to:

(1) facilitate planning processes for rural communities resulting in a community solution action plan that guides decision making to sustain and increase the supply of quality child care in the region to support economic development;

(2) engage the private sector to invest local resources to support the community solution action plan and ensure quality child care is a vital component of additional regional economic development planning processes;

(3) provide locally based training and technical assistance to rural child care business owners individually or through a learning cohort. Access to financial and business development assistance must prepare child care businesses for quality engagement and improvement by stabilizing operations, leveraging funding from other sources, and fostering business acumen that allows child care businesses to plan for and afford the cost of providing quality child care; or

(4) recruit child care programs to participate in Parent Aware, Minnesota's quality and improvement rating system, and other high quality measurement programs. The Minnesota Initiative Foundations must work with local partners to provide low-cost training, professional development opportunities, and continuing education curricula. The Minnesota Initiative Foundations must fund, through local partners, an enhanced level of coaching to rural child care providers to obtain a quality rating through Parent Aware or other high quality measurement programs.

(n)(1) $650,000 each year from the workforce development fund is for grants to the Neighborhood Development Center for small business programs. This is a onetime appropriation.

(2) Of the amount appropriated in the first year, $150,000 is for outreach and training activities outside the seven-county metropolitan area, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2.

(o) $8,000,000 each year is for the Minnesota job creation fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.8748. Of this amount, the commissioner of employment and economic development may use up to three percent for administrative expenses. This appropriation is available until expended.

(p)(1) $11,970,000 each year is for the Minnesota investment fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.8731. Of this amount, the commissioner of employment and economic development may use up to three percent for administration and monitoring of the program. In fiscal year 2022 and beyond, the base amount is $12,370,000. This appropriation is available until expended. Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.8731, funds appropriated to the commissioner for the Minnesota investment fund may be used for the redevelopment program under Minnesota Statutes, sections 116J.575 and 116J.5761, at the discretion of the commissioner. Grants under this paragraph are not subject to the grant amount limitation under Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.8731.

(2) Of the amount appropriated in the first year, $2,000,000 is for a loan to a paper mill in Duluth for a retrofit project that will support the operation and manufacture of packaging paper grades. The company that owns the paper mill must spend $20,000,000 on project activities by December 31, 2020, in order to be eligible to receive this loan. Loan funds may be used for purchases of materials, supplies, and equipment for the project and are available from July 1, 2019, to July 30, 2021. The commissioner of employment and economic development shall forgive 25 percent of the loan each year after the second year during a five-year period if the mill has retained at least deleted text begin 200deleted text end new text begin 150new text end full-time equivalent employees and has satisfied other performance goals and contractual obligations as required under Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.8731.

(q) $700,000 in fiscal year 2020 is for the airport infrastructure renewal (AIR) grant program under Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.439.

(r) $100,000 in fiscal year 2020 is for a grant to FIRST in Upper Midwest to support competitive robotics teams. Funds must be used to make up to five awards of no more than $20,000 each to Minnesota-based public entities or private nonprofit organizations for the creation of competitive robotics hubs. Awards may be used for tools, equipment, and physical space to be utilized by robotics teams. At least 50 percent of grant funds must be used outside of the seven-county metropolitan area, as defined under Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2. The grant recipient shall report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over jobs and economic growth by February 1, 2021, on the status of awards and include information on the number and amount of awards made, the number of customers served, and any outcomes resulting from the grant. The grant requires a 50 percent match from nonstate sources.

(s) $1,000,000 each year is for the Minnesota emerging entrepreneur loan program under Minnesota Statutes, section 116M.18. Funds available under this paragraph are for transfer into the emerging entrepreneur program special revenue fund account created under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116M, and are available until expended. Of this amount, up to four percent is for administration and monitoring of the program.

(t) $163,000 each year is for the Minnesota Film and TV Board. The appropriation in each year is available only upon receipt by the board of $1 in matching contributions of money or in-kind contributions from nonstate sources for every $3 provided by this appropriation, except that each year up to $50,000 is available on July 1 even if the required matching contribution has not been received by that date.

(u) $12,000 each year is for a grant to the Upper Minnesota Film Office.

(v) $500,000 each year is from the general fund for a grant to the Minnesota Film and TV Board for the film production jobs program under Minnesota Statutes, section 116U.26. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2023.

(w) $4,195,000 each year is for the Minnesota job skills partnership program under Minnesota Statutes, sections 116L.01 to 116L.17. If the appropriation for either year is insufficient, the appropriation for the other year is available. This appropriation is available until expended.

(x) $1,350,000 each year is from the workforce development fund for jobs training grants under Minnesota Statutes, section 116L.42.

(y) $2,500,000 each year is for Launch Minnesota. This is a onetime appropriation and funds are available until June 30, 2023. Of this amount:

(1) $1,600,000 each year is for innovation grants to eligible Minnesota entrepreneurs or start-up businesses to assist with their operating needs;

(2) $450,000 each year is for administration of Launch Minnesota; and

(3) $450,000 each year is for grantee activities at Launch Minnesota.

(z) $500,000 each year is from the workforce development fund for a grant to Youthprise to give grants through a competitive process to community organizations to provide economic development services designed to enhance long-term economic self-sufficiency in communities with concentrated East African populations. Such communities include but are not limited to Faribault, Rochester, St. Cloud, Moorhead, and Willmar. To the extent possible, Youthprise must make at least 50 percent of these grants to organizations serving communities located outside the seven-county metropolitan area, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2.This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2022.

(aa) $125,000 each year is for a grant to the Hmong Chamber of Commerce to train ethnically Southeast Asian business owners and operators in better business practices. This is a onetime appropriation.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective retroactive from July 1, 2019. new text end

Presented to the governor May 18, 2020

Signed by the governor May 27, 2020, 11:19 a.m.

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes