HF 2506

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 03/14/2019 02:10pm

A bill for an act
relating to economic development; appropriating money for community prosperity
grants.

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

Section 1.

new text begin COMMUNITY PROSPERITY FUND GRANT PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment; purpose. new text end

new text begin The community prosperity fund grant program
is established to provide grants to public or 501(c)(3) nonprofit entities to implement
innovative economic development projects that will support economic growth in their
community.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the
meanings given them:
new text end

new text begin (1) "economic development" means activities, services, investments, and infrastructure
that support the economic success of individuals, businesses, and communities by facilitating
an economic environment that produces net new jobs;
new text end

new text begin (2) "innovative project" means the provision of a public service or good that was absent
in the community or of insufficient quantity or quality;
new text end

new text begin (3) "local governmental unit" means a county, city, town, special district, public higher
education institution, or other political subdivision or public corporation; and
new text end

new text begin (4) "community" means any geographic area defined by one or more census tracts.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Community prosperity fund grants. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of employment and
economic development shall:
new text end

new text begin (1) develop and implement a community prosperity fund grant program that will provide
matching grants up to 85 percent of total project cost up to $100,000 to implement innovative
economic development projects that will induce economic growth in their community;
new text end

new text begin (2) develop a request for proposals;
new text end

new text begin (3) review responses to requests for proposals and award grants under this section;
new text end

new text begin (4) establish a transparent and objective accountability process focused on outcomes
that grantees agree to achieve; and
new text end

new text begin (5) maintain data on outcomes reported by grantees.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Eligible grantees. new text end

new text begin Organizations eligible to receive grant funding under this
section include:
new text end

new text begin (1) local government units; and
new text end

new text begin (2) nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations that have established partnerships with one or more
local government units to implement economic development projects or activities.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Priority of proposals; grant awards. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall prioritize the
award of grants to proposals that demonstrate that the project:
new text end

new text begin (1) will serve communities with a population of 5,000 or less;
new text end

new text begin (2) will support the economic success of individuals, businesses, and communities by
facilitating an economic environment that produces net new jobs;
new text end

new text begin (3) will provide public services or goods that was absent in the community or of
insufficient quantity or quality;
new text end

new text begin (4) serves a defined geographic area; racial, ethnic, or minority community; or American
Indian community experiencing any the following: below state average wages, above state
average unemployment rate, or below state average labor force participation rate;
new text end

new text begin (5) will be sustainable or continue to have impact beyond the one-time funding from
this program;
new text end

new text begin (6) will be successfully implemented based on the qualifications of the lead organization;
and
new text end

new text begin (7) will serve two or more local government units.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Geographic distribution of grants. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall ensure that a
minimum of 50 percent of grant funds are awarded to communities outside the seven-county
metropolitan area.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin Grantees must report grant program outcomes to the commissioner on
the forms and according to the timelines established by the commissioner.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2020 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of employment and economic development for the community prosperity grant fund in
section 1. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2021.
new text end