2005 Minnesota Statutes

     116J.575 Grants. 

    Subdivision 1.    Commissioner discretion.  The 
 commissioner may make a grant for up to 50 percent of the 
 eligible costs of a project.  The determination of whether to 
 make a grant for a site is within the discretion of the 
 commissioner, subject to this section and sections 116J.571 to 
 116J.574 and available unencumbered money in the redevelopment 
 account.  Notwithstanding section 116J.573, if the commissioner 
 determines that the applications for grants for projects in 
 greater Minnesota are less than the amount of grant funds 
 available, the commissioner may make grants for projects 
 anywhere in Minnesota.  The commissioner's decisions and 
 application of the priorities under this section are not subject 
 to judicial review, except for abuse of discretion. 

    Subd. 1a.    Priorities.  (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.  
 "Public benefits" include job creation, bioscience development, 
 environmental benefits to the state and region, efficient use of 
 public transportation, efficient use of existing infrastructure, 
 provision of affordable housing, multiuse development that 
 constitutes community rebuilding rather than single-use 
 development, crime reduction, blight reduction, community 
 stabilization, and property tax base maintenance or 
 improvement.  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) 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.  

    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. 

    Subd. 3.    Match required.  In order to qualify for a 
 grant under sections 116J.571 to 116J.575, the municipality must 
 pay for at least one-half of the redevelopment costs as a local 
 match from any money available to the municipality. 

    HIST: 2002 c 393 s 51; 2005 c 20 art 1 s 33; 1Sp2005 c 1 art 4 
 s 19