1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to transportation; employment and economic development; awarding
1.3 construction mitigation grants to businesses affected by Trunk Highway 65
1.4 construction; requiring a report; appropriating money.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. TRUNK HIGHWAY 65 CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION GRANTS.
1.7 Subdivision 1.Definitions.(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have
1.8the meanings given.
1.9 (b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of employment and economic development.
1.10 (c) "Qualified business" means a business that employs up to 40 full-time or part-time
1.11employees and experiences substantial business impacts as a result of the project.
1.12 (d) "Substantial business impacts" means impairment of road access, parking, or visibility
1.13for one or more qualified businesses as a result of the project, for a minimum period of one
1.14month.
1.15 (e) "Trunk Highway 65 construction project" or "project" means the construction work
1.16to improve intersections along marked Trunk Highway 65 in the city of Blaine at 99th
1.17Avenue Northeast; 105th Avenue Northeast; Anoka County State-Aid Highway 12, known
1.18as 109th Avenue Northeast; and 117th Avenue Northeast, including the associated frontage
1.19roads and backage roads within the trunk highway system.
1.20 Subd. 2.Establishment.The commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of
1.21transportation, must award grants to qualified businesses that are negatively affected by the
1Section 1.
25-04606 as introduced03/07/25 REVISOR KRB/VJ
SENATE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
S.F. No. 2747NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
(SENATE AUTHORS: KREUN, Gustafson, Bahr, Hoffman and Abeler)
OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
Introduction and first reading03/20/2025
Referred to Transportation 2.1Trunk Highway 65 construction project for the purpose of maintaining the businesses during
2.2the project.
2.3 Subd. 3.Grant awards.(a) The commissioner must prioritize the awarding of each
2.4grant on a case-by-case basis, including but not limited to the following criteria:
2.5 (1) rate of decline in revenue;
2.6 (2) duration of construction;
2.7 (3) proximity to construction;
2.8 (4) severity of traffic disruption; and
2.9 (5) lack of access for pedestrian traffic.
2.10 (b) When determining grant awards, the commissioner must consult with the
2.11commissioner of transportation and with the business liaison designated for the project
2.12under Minnesota Statutes, section 160.165.
2.13 (c) Grant funds awarded under this section may be used for employee payroll expenses,
2.14operating expenses, or facilities expenses. Grant awards must not be used for bonuses; new
2.15equipment, furniture, or capital improvements; or construction or expansion.
2.16 Subd. 4.Report.By January 15, 2027, and annually thereafter on January 15 until the
2.17project is completed, the commissioner must submit a report on the grants awarded under
2.18this section to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with
2.19jurisdiction over employment and economic development and transportation finance and
2.20policy. At a minimum, the report must include a complete list of grants awarded in the
2.21previous calendar year, including business names and addresses, types of businesses, and
2.22the amount of each award.
2.23 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2025.
2.24 Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
2.25 $5,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
2.26of employment and economic development for the grant awards under section 1.
2.27Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.98, subdivision 14, the commissioner
2.28may retain up to two percent of this appropriation for administrative costs. This is a onetime
2.29appropriation and is available until June 30, 2029.
2.30 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2025.
2Sec. 2.
25-04606 as introduced03/07/25 REVISOR KRB/VJ