1998 Minnesota Statutes

     116J.565 Priorities. 

    Subdivision 1.    Characteristics.  (a) If applications 
 for grants exceed the available appropriations, grants shall be 
 made for sites that, in the commissioner's judgment, provide the 
 highest return in public benefits for the public costs 
 incurred.  In making this judgment, the commissioner shall give 
 priority to redevelopment projects with one or more of the 
 following characteristics: 

    (1) the need for redevelopment in conjunction with 
 contamination remediation needs; 

    (2) the redevelopment project meets current tax increment 
 financing requirements for a redevelopment district and tax 
 increments will contribute to the project; 

    (3) the redevelopment potential within the municipality; 

    (4) proximity to public transit if located in the 
 metropolitan area; and 

    (5) multijurisdictional projects that take into account the 
 need for affordable housing, transportation, and environmental 
 impact. 

    (b) The factors in paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (5), are 
 not listed in a rank order of priority; rather the commissioner 
 may weigh each factor, depending upon the facts and 
 circumstances, as the commissioner considers appropriate.  The 
 commissioner may consider other factors that affect the net 
 return of public benefits for completion of the redevelopment 
 plan.  The commissioner, notwithstanding the listing of 
 priorities and the goal of maximizing the return of public 
 benefits, shall make grants that distribute available money to 
 sites both within and outside of the metropolitan area.  The 
 commissioner shall provide a written statement of the supporting 
 reasons for each grant.  Unless sufficient applications are not 
 received for qualifying sites outside of the metropolitan area, 
 at least 25 percent of the money provided as grants must be made 
 for sites located outside of the metropolitan area.  The 
 commissioner shall consult with the metropolitan council about 
 metropolitan area grants. 

    Subd. 2.    Application cycles.  In making grants, the 
 commissioner shall establish semiannual application deadlines in 
 which grants will be authorized from all or part of the 
 available money in the account. 

    HIST: 1998 c 404 s 45