1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to business development; establishing a grant program for business 
1.3 	development in the Southeast Asian community; appropriating money.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. SOUTHEAST ASIAN COMMUNITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT; 
1.6 	APPROPRIATION.
 1.7 	$1,000,000 in fiscal year 2017 is appropriated from the general fund to the 
1.8 	commissioner of employment and economic development for grants to eligible 
1.9 	organizations to work collaboratively in providing business development and assistance 
1.10 	services to businesses owned by members of the Hmong, Karen, and other Southeast 
1.11 	Asian communities in the state. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 
1.12 	30, 2019. For the purposes of this section, "eligible organizations" means: Hmong 18 
1.13 	Clan Council, Hmong Chamber of Commerce, and Hmong American Vanguard Power 
1.14 	Allegiance for Justice. Grant funds awarded under this section may be used to provide 
1.15 	services to business owners and aspiring business owners in the Hmong, Laotian, Karen, 
1.16 	Thai, and Vietnamese communities, including but not limited to:
1.17 	(1) technical assistance;
1.18 	(2) education and skill building in business administration and management;
1.19 	(3) recruitment and outreach to business owners and aspiring business owners; and
1.20 	(4) training opportunities in the skilled trades, small business start-up and 
1.21 	management, and business finance, including loan and grant application processes and 
1.22 	procedures.
1.23 	Up to ... percent of grants awarded under this section may be used by award recipients for 
1.24 	administrative costs, including the hiring of additional staff.