1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to economic development; requiring reports; appropriating money for
1.3 grants to the African Development Center, social benefit corporations, and small
1.4 businesses in the St. Paul Midway area.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. APPROPRIATION; AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT CENTER.
1.7 (a) $4,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the general fund to the
1.8commissioner of employment and economic development for a grant to the African
1.9Development Center for the purposes listed in paragraph (b). This is a onetime appropriation
1.10and is available until June 30, 2027.
1.11 (b) Of the amount in paragraph (a):
1.12 (1) $2,000,000 is for loans to assist small business owners in purchasing commercial
1.13real estate;
1.14 (2) $910,000 is for loan loss reserves to support loan volume growth and attract additional
1.15capital; and
1.16 (3) $1,090,000 is for increasing organizational capacity building.
1.17 Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; SOCIAL BENEFIT CORPORATIONS.
1.18 (a) $500,000 in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
1.19of employment and economic development for grants to social benefit corporations, as
1.20defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 304A.011, that provide employment opportunities
1.21to underserved, low-income, and hard-to-employ populations in Minnesota. Grant money
1Sec. 2.
REVISOR SS/DG 25-0510203/28/25
State of Minnesota
This Document can be made available
in alternative formats upon request
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. F. No. 3061
NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
Authored by Hussein04/02/2025
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy 2.1must be used to expand workforce capacity and increase employment opportunities within
2.2social benefit corporations that currently employ up to 15 individuals with the goal of
2.3expanding employment to 30 individuals. Money may be used to subsidize the wages of
2.4new hires, for workforce training, and for employment support services, including job
2.5coaching and retention initiatives. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June
2.630, 2027.
2.7 (b) Each recipient of a grant must submit a report to the commissioner of employment
2.8and economic development on the use of grant money, including the number of new
2.9employees hired as a result of the grant and retention and job satisfaction metrics, within
2.10one year of receiving a grant.
2.11 Sec. 3. APPROPRIATION; SMALL BUSINESS JOB CREATION IN THE ST.
2.12PAUL MIDWAY AREA.
2.13 (a) $300,000 in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
2.14of employment and economic development for grants to support small businesses in the St.
2.15Paul Midway area and foster economic growth and job creation. Grants should target the
2.16needs of African immigrant business owners and support business stability and workforce
2.17expansion. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2027.
2.18 (b) Each recipient of a grant must submit a report to the commissioner of employment
2.19and economic development on the use of grant money, the number of new employees hired
2.20as a result of the grant, and the economic impact of the grant within one year of receiving
2.21a grant.
2Sec. 3.
REVISOR SS/DG 25-0510203/28/25