1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to housing; appropriating money for workforce housing.
1.3 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.4 	Section 1. CHALLENGE PROGRAM; APPROPRIATION.
 1.5 	(a) $18,925,000 in fiscal year 2018 and $18,925,000 in fiscal year 2019 are appropriated 
1.6 	from the general fund to the commissioner of the Housing Finance Agency for the economic 
1.7 	development and housing challenge program under Minnesota Statutes, section 462A.33.
1.8 	(b)(1) Of the amount appropriated, $6,000,000 each year is for competitive grants targeted 
1.9 	for housing in communities and regions that have:
1.10 	(i) low housing vacancy rates;
1.11 	(ii) cooperatively developed a plan that identifies current and future housing needs;
1.12 	(iii) evidence of anticipated job expansion; or
1.13 	(iv) a significant portion of area employees who commute more than 30 miles between 
1.14 	their residence and their place of employment.
1.15 	(2) Among comparable housing proposals, preference must be given to proposals that:
1.16 	(i) include a meaningful contribution from area employers that reduces the need for 
1.17 	deferred loan or grant funds from state resources;
1.18 	(ii) include federal funding, if available, or other nonstate funding; or
2.1 	(iii) provide housing opportunities for an expanded range of household incomes within 
2.2 	a community or that provide housing opportunities for a wide range of incomes within the 
2.3 	development.