1998 Minnesota Statutes

     268.978 Prefeasibility studies. 

    Subdivision 1.    Prefeasibility study grants.  (a) The 
 commissioner may make grants for up to $15,000 to eligible 
 organizations to provide an initial assessment of the 
 feasibility of alternatives to plant closings or substantial 
 layoffs.  The alternatives may include employee ownership, other 
 new ownership, new products or production processes, or public 
 financial or technical assistance to keep a plant open.  Two or 
 more eligible organizations may jointly apply for a grant under 
 this section. 

    (b) Interested organizations shall apply to the 
 commissioner for the grants.  As part of the application 
 process, applicants must provide a statement of need for a 
 grant, information relating to the work force at the plant, the 
 area's unemployment rate, the community's and surrounding area's 
 labor market characteristics, information of efforts to 
 coordinate the community's response to the plant closing or 
 substantial layoff, a timetable of the prefeasibility study, a 
 description of the organization applying for the grant, a 
 description of the qualifications of persons conducting the 
 study, and other information required by the commissioner. 

    (c) The commissioner shall respond to the applicant within 
 five working days of receiving the organization's application.  
 The commissioner shall inform each organization that applied for 
 but did not receive a grant the reasons for the grant not being 
 awarded.  The commissioner may request further information from 
 those organizations that did not receive a grant, and the 
 organization may reapply for the grant. 

    Subd. 2.    Prefeasibility study.  (a) The 
 prefeasibility study must explore the current and potential 
 viability, profitability, and productivity of the plant that may 
 close or experience a substantial layoff and alternative uses 
 for the plant.  The study is not intended to be a major 
 examination of each possible alternative but rather is meant to 
 quickly determine if further action or examination is feasible 
 and should be fully explored. 

    (b) The prefeasibility study must contain: 

    (1) a description of the plant's present products, 
 production techniques, management structure, and history; 

    (2) a brief discussion of the feasibility of the various 
 alternatives for ownership, production technique, and products; 

    (3) an estimate of the financing required to keep the plant 
 open and the potential sources of that financing; 

    (4) a description of the employer's, employees', and 
 community's efforts to maintain the operation of the plant; and 

    (5) other information the commissioner may require. 

    Subd. 3. Repealed, 1993 c 369 s 146 

    HIST: 1989 c 282 art 2 s 180; 1993 c 369 s 104