GREATER MINNESOTA PARTNERSHIP LEGISLATIVE...

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MEMORANDUM DATE: February 20, 2015 TO: MAYOR & COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM: DANNY LENZ, CITY MANAGER SUBJECT: CITY MANAGER’S REPORT GREATER MINNESOTA PARTNERSHIP LEGISLATIVE UPDATE The State of Minnesota 2015 legislative session has gotten underway, and the first Greater Minnesota Partnership (GMNP) bill has received a hearing. Bills HF 578 and 579 received a hearing this past Tuesday in the Minnesota House. The bill would implement changes to the Greater Minnesota Business Development Public Infrastructure (BDPI) Grant Program, including increased funding for the program and policy changes to give greater flexibility for cities and broader eligibility of projects that would qualify. The Chief author for the House version of the bills is Representative Mary Franson, and the Chief author for the Senate version of the bill is Senator Vicki Jensen. A handout on the BDPI legislation, as well as the summary information on GMNP 2015 Legislative Priorities, is attached. ADDITIONAL ATTACHMENTS Updated 2015 February & March Calendars CGMC In Brief – 2/12/15 CGMC In Brief – 2/19/15 Greater Minnesota Partnership’s Economic Advantage – 2/3/15

Transcript of GREATER MINNESOTA PARTNERSHIP LEGISLATIVE...

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MEMORANDUM DATE: February 20, 2015 TO: MAYOR & COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM: DANNY LENZ, CITY MANAGER SUBJECT: CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

GREATER MINNESOTA PARTNERSHIP LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

The State of Minnesota 2015 legislative session has gotten underway, and the first Greater

Minnesota Partnership (GMNP) bill has received a hearing. Bills HF 578 and 579 received a

hearing this past Tuesday in the Minnesota House. The bill would implement changes to the

Greater Minnesota Business Development Public Infrastructure (BDPI) Grant Program, including

increased funding for the program and policy changes to give greater flexibility for cities and

broader eligibility of projects that would qualify. The Chief author for the House version of the

bills is Representative Mary Franson, and the Chief author for the Senate version of the bill is

Senator Vicki Jensen. A handout on the BDPI legislation, as well as the summary information on

GMNP 2015 Legislative Priorities, is attached.

ADDITIONAL ATTACHMENTS

• Updated 2015 February & March Calendars • CGMC In Brief – 2/12/15 • CGMC In Brief – 2/19/15 • Greater Minnesota Partnership’s Economic Advantage – 2/3/15

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The Greater MN Business Development Public

Infrastructure (BDPI) Grant Program Providing the public infrastructure necessary for private investment.

Prepared by Flaherty and Hood, P.A. for the Coalition of Greater MN Cities, 1/16/2014

What is BDPI? The BPDI program provides grants to cities in

Greater Minnesota of up to 50% of the capital

costs of the public infrastructure necessary to

expand economic growth, retain or create jobs, or

increase the tax base (§ 116J.431).

Greater Minnesota cities depend on the grant

program to attract new businesses and create jobs

in their communities.

BDPI Quick Facts

166 Greater Minnesota cities have received BDPI

grants since FY 2003

1,625 jobs created and 6,146 jobs retained

More than $52 million awarded since 2003

The average grant to a Greater Minnesota city is

$279,881

This progra has a outstanding return

o i vest e t --DEED, State of Minnesota 2010

Preliminary Capital Budget Requests,

7/15/2009

O e of DEED’s best

programs --MMB Director Tom Hanson, press

co fere ce regardi g gover or’s Bonding Bill Requests

2015 BDPI Proposal

Appropriate $10 million in general obligation bonding

Appropriate $10 million in general fund dollars

Increase maximum grant amount from $1 million to $2 million

Require that projects receive at least 50% of state funding, unless otherwise specified by

applicant

Allow for funding of infrastructure projects so that communities have a supply of property

ready to serve industrial uses

Support the Greater Minnesota BDPI program

a d help grow Greater Mi esota’s eco o y

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The Greater MN Business Development Public

Infrastructure (BDPI) Grant Program Providing the public infrastructure necessary for private investment.

Prepared by Flaherty and Hood, P.A. for the Coalition of Greater MN Cities, 1/16/2014

How did BDPI impact your community in 2014?

Detroit Lakes:

Awarded $92,100 to

pave a street that will

serve an 89,000 square

foot addition to a

business.

Elk River:

Awarded $290,997 for

infrastructure to

expand an industrial

park, resulting in the

creation of 45 jobs.

Preston:

Awarded total of

$487,000 to expand

infrastructure, creating

or retaining 18 jobs.

Wanamingo:

Awarded $250,000 to

provide infrastructure

for the expansion of an

industrial park,

creating 20 jobs.

La Prairie:

Awarded $175,000 to

help defray cost of

sewer services for

business expansion,

creating 12-16 jobs.

Virginia:

Awarded $200,000 to

provide for

infrastructure for

expansion, creating 10

jobs.

Harmony:

Awarded $250,000 to

install a municipal

water well to support

business expansion,

creating 14 jobs.

Pelican Rapids:

Awarded $145,390 to

improve infrastructure

serving a local

business, retaining

650 employees.

Staples:

Awarded $23,230 to

expand infrastructure

allowing for business

expansion and 5 new

jobs.

Blooming Prairie:

Awarded $215,829 to

provide infrastructure

to a local company,

resulting in the

creation of 10 jobs.

Owatonna:

Awarded $421,447 to

expand infrastructure

for business, resulting

in creation of 40 new

jobs.

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The Greater MN Business Development Public

Infrastructure (BDPI) Grant Program Providing the public infrastructure necessary for private investment.

Prepared by Flaherty and Hood, P.A. for the Coalition of Greater MN Cities, 1/16/2014

Where has BDPI funded infrastructure for private business?

Ada 2003 $166,783

Albany 2005 $515,309

Albert Lea 2006 $250,000

Alexandria 2003 $300,000

Audubon 2003 $19,601

Austin 2003 $380,000

Bagley 2011 $204,134

Barnesville 2011 $134,013

Becker 2010 $250,000

Belgrade 2003 $136,913

Bemidji 2006 $350,000

Bemidji 2008 $250,000

Benson 2003 $347,066

Bigfork 2008 $190,223

Bigfork 2010 $250,000

Blackduck 2010 $71,825

Blooming Prairie 2010 $215,829

Bovey 2006 $192,000

Brainerd 2006 $375,000

Brewster 2003 $81,495

Brewster 2008 $250,000

Brooten 2010 $250,000

Browerville 2005 $175,000

Cambridge 2011 $224,884

Cannon Falls 2005 $250,000

Cannon Falls 2010 $15,000

Chatfield 2012 $90,753

Chisholm 2010 $300,000

Chokio 2010 $206,700

Cloquet 2003 $280,000

Cohasset 2005 $352,000

Cold Spring 2005 $392,752

Cold Spring 2006 $300,000

Coleraine 2006 $173,435

Cottonwood 2005 $140,769

Crookston 2010 $75,000

Delano 2011 $300,000

Delano 2012 $60,000

Detroit Lakes 2008 $250,000

Detroit Lakes 2014 $92,100

Duluth 2005 $500,000

Duluth 2005 $500,000

Duluth 2006 $250,000

Duluth 2008 $500,000

East Grand Forks 2008 $245,000

Edgerton 2006 $92,125

Elk River 2005 $360,080

Elk River 2010 $290,997

Elk River 2011 $250,000

Faribault 2003 $86,002

Faribault 2005 $278,425

Faribault 2011 $349,528

Fergus Falls 2006 $300,000

Fosston 2008 $250,000

Freeport 2006 $888,483

Gilbert 2011 $244,750

Grand Marais 2005 $499,137

Grand Rapids 2005 $272,075

Grand Rapids 2008 $250,000

Green Isle 2003 $67,036

Hallock 2006 $300,000

Hanover 2010 $250,000

Harmony 2003 $191,768

Harmony 2010 $250,000

Hartland 2008 $25,000

Hawley 2005 $122,500

Hawley 2008 $140,476

Hawley 2012 $500,000

Herman 2005 $143,900

Heron Lake 2005 $500,000

Hibbing 2006 $250,000

Hibbing 2010 $150,000

Hutchinson 2008 $250,000

Hutchinson 2010 $250,000

Isanti 2010 $11,000

Jackson 2005 $351,281

Jackson 2010 $153,286

La Crescent 2006 $1,400,000

La Prairie 2010 $237,500

La Prairie 2015 $175,000

Lake Crystal 2003 $500,000

Lake Crystal 2006 $257,548

Lakefield 2008 $198,000

Le Sueur 2003 $358,127

Le Sueur 2006 $250,000

Litchfield 2005 $261,900

Litchfield 2010 $107,151

Little Falls 2005 $500,000

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The Greater MN Business Development Public

Infrastructure (BDPI) Grant Program Providing the public infrastructure necessary for private investment.

Prepared by Flaherty and Hood, P.A. for the Coalition of Greater MN Cities, 1/16/2014

Long Prairie 2005 $500,000

Long Prairie 2010 $240,000

Luverne 2003 $500,000

Luverne 2011 $150,000

Lyle 2012 $98,490

Mankato 2003 $21,313

Mankato 2005 $500,000

Mankato 2005 $142,590

Mankato 2006 $478,687

Mankato 2010 $249,666

Mazeppa 2008 $248,248

Melrose 2003 $400,000

Milaca 2003 $68,310

Montrose 2008 $427,390

Moorhead 2003 $500,000

Moorhead 2012 $250,000

Mora 2006 $56,995

Morris 2010 $500,000

Motley 2010 $250,000

Mountain Iron 2010 $250,000

New Prague 2010 $313,005

New Ulm 2008 $200,681

North Branch 2003 $387,787

North Branch 2005 $304,222

North Mankato 2008 $250,000

Olivia 2003 $164,405

Osakis 2006 $383,140

Owatonna 2014 $421,447

Palisade 2011 $120,000

Pelican Rapids 2014 $145,390

Perham 2003 $122,725

Perham 2006 $250,000

Perham 2010 $500,000

Pine City 2003 $53,477

Pine River 2005 $164,049

Pipestone 2005 $499,907

Preston 2012 $137,000

Preston 2012 $350,000

Red Wing 2010 $106,086

Redwood Falls 2005 $250,000

Richmond 2008 $121,799

Rockville 2005 $152,734

Roseau 2003 $378,000

Roseau 2008 $300,000

Saint Charles 2010 $500,000

Saint Cloud 2005 $286,710

Saint Cloud 2010 $500,000

Saint James 2003 $209,600

Saint James 2008 $207,108

Silver Bay 2003 $261,354

Springfield 2005 $486,239

Staples 2010 $23,230

Stewartville 2011 $337,688

Thief River Falls 2006 $236,039

Thief River Falls 2008 $200,000

Thief River Falls 2011 $250,000

Tower 2006 $249,980

Truman 2003 $223,358

Virginia 2006 $300,000

Virginia 2010 $200,000

Virginia 2010 $300,000

Virginia 2015 $200,000

Wadena 2011 $350,000

Wanamingo 2003 $222,375

Wanamingo 2014 $250,000

Warren 2010 $150,000

Wells 2005 $41,072

Wells 2012 $148,000

Windom 2011 $549,540

Winona 2005 $490,000

Winona 2006 $300,000

Winona 2008 $337,500

Winona 2010 $94,881

Winthrop 2008 $500,000

Worthington 2010 $500,000

Wyoming 2003 $1,000,000

Wyoming 2006 $481,435

Zumbrota 2010 $750,000

Total Appropriation:

Fiscal Year Amount Appropriated

2003 $7,500,000

2004

2005 $10,000,000

2006 $6,100,000

2007

2008 $7,000,000

2009

2010 $8,515,000

2011 $4,000,000

2012 $6,000,000

2013

2014 $6,200,000

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Greater Minnesota Partnership 2015 Legislative Priorities

Bill * House Senate 1. Greater Minnesota Business Development Public Infrastructure Grant Program Funding • General fund & bonding • $20 million request • Needed policy updates

HF 578 and 579 Chief author – Rep. Mary Franson

Hearing Scheduled on 2-17-15

SF 386 and XXX Chief author – Rep. Vicki Jensen

2. Job Training • Tax credit or Grant • $15 million request • Fast-Flexible-Employer Friendly

HF 750 and 751 Chief author – Rep. Deb Kiel

SF 525 and 526 Chief author – Sen. David Tomassoni

3. Workforce Housing • Tax credit and Grant • $100 million request • Establish Workforce Housing Office

HF 749 Chief author – Rep. Rod Hamilton

SF 764 Chief author – Sen. Dan Sparks

4. Broadband Funding • $100 million request • No policy changes

HF 556 Chief author – Rep. Sheldon Johnson

SF 439 Chief author – Sen. Matt Schmidt

5. Transportation • Corridors of Commerce • $200 million split between metro and non-metro

HF XX Chief author –

SF XX Chief author –

6. Environmental Regulatory Reform • Cost/benefit analysis – funding • Scientific peer review required

HF 616 and 617 Chief author – Rep. Dan Fabian

SF 689 and 690 Chief author – Rep. Kent Eken

The Greater Minnesota Partnership d eveloped the legislation and worked hard to get strong bi -partisan author s of and support for these bills. For more information

on the se bills, please contact GMNP Executive Director Dan Dorman at [email protected] or 612-245-5204.

Chart dated Feb. 12, 2015. Legislation on job training and transportation will be introduced and receive

bill numbers soon.

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CGMC in Brief - Feb. 12, 2015 View this email in your browser

Newsletter for the Week of February 12, 2015

CGMC environmental bills call for good science, cost analysis Within the last week, Sen. Kent Eken (DFL-Twin Valley) and Rep. Dan Fabian (R-

Roseau) introduced the two CGMC environmental bills. The CGMC sent out a

press release Monday to announce the bills and thank the legislators for their work.

The first bill, SF 689 and HF 616, is aimed at getting a better understanding of the

impact recently adopted and soon-to-be adopted water regulations and rules will

have on our communities across the state. It would require a financial analysis of

the impact of water quality rules adopted last summer or anticipated to be adopted

within the next five years on 15 representative communities from across the state.

With the state currently adopting and amending water quality regulations at an

upgraded pace, we need to understand the financial burden they are placing on

our communities. The bill would also require legislative approval of certain high-

cost regulations.

The second bill, SF 690 and HF 617, seeks to bring good science into water quality

standards by requiring that when a water quality standard will have a statewide

impact of $50 million or more, the underlying science will go through an

independent peer review. The proposal is modeled after the Environmental

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Protection Agency’s Peer Review Guidance and simply seeks to require that

Minnesota be held to the same standard.

If you have any questions regarding the bills, please contact Elizabeth Wefel at

[email protected].

Townships seek to drastically limit orderly annexation The townships introduced a bill this week that limits a city's ability to annex

property. SF 680 (Sen. Lyle Koenen, DFL-Clara City) would forbid a city from

seeking to annex any property that is subject to an orderly annexation agreement

with another city. Although it may seem innocuous on its face, in practice this

would create expensive and burdensome situations for many cities. A township

could create a bidding war between two cities. It could sign an orderly annexation

agreement with one city that has no intention of ever using it to block a much

closer city from exercising annexation.

The CGMC will actively work against this bill in order to protect a city's ability to do

common-sense annexation. The bill currently does not have a companion in the

House. If you have any questions regarding annexation legislation, please contact

Elizabeth Wefel at [email protected].

CGMC LGA bill introduced in House The CGMC's bill to bring Local Government Aid funding back to its 2002 level was

introduced in the House on Monday. HF 685 (Rep. Paul Anderson, R-Starbuck)

would increase LGA funding by $45.5 million ($22.75 in 2016 and $22.75 again in

2017). The bill's Senate companion, authored by Sen. Koenen, will be introduced

next week. If you have any questions, please contact Bradley Peterson at

[email protected].

Legislation provides incentives to build much -needed workforce housing in Greater Minnesota Legislation introduced today in the Senate and House seeks to address the

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shortage of workforce housing that affects many Greater Minnesota communities.

SF 764 (Sen. Dan Sparks, DFL-Austin) and HF 749 (Rep. Rod Hamilton, R-

Mountain Lake) would provide tax credits and grants to encourage developers and

investors to build workforce housing in Greater Minnesota. The CGMC's sister

organization, the Greater Minnesota Partnership, helped to develop the legislation.

For more information, read this GMNP press release.

Legislators propose restrictions on parks & trails funding Sen. Koenen also proposed two bills that, if passed, could make it nearly

impossible to use Legacy Funds to purchase property for parks and trails. The first

bill, SF 574 and HF 619 (authored by Rep. Tim Miller, R-Prinsburg) would prohibit a

community from even applying for a legacy grant to purchase property for a park or

trail unless every city or township where it is located signs off on it. It would not

matter if the landowner wants to sell the property; township board approval would

still be needed.

The second bill, SF 575 (which does not have a House companion), would prohibit

a community from applying for a legacy grant unless it has secured written

approval from 80 percent of the adults living near a park or trail and 80 percent of

adjacent property owners. This onerous requirement disregards the rights of the

person who is interested in selling the land.

In addition, Rep. Nels Pierson (R-Rochester) has introduced the House

companion, HF 698, to Senate bill SF 122 (which was defeated last week) which

would prohibit cities from using legacy money to purchase property obtained

through eminent domain.

The CGMC may weigh in on these bills. The Greater Minnesota Parks & Trails

(GMPT) organization is taking an active role in opposing these bills. To learn how

to get more involved with GMPT and to receive timely legislative updates and

action alerts on these and related bills, contact Elizabeth Wefel at

[email protected].

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CGMC Fall Conference returning to Alexandria The CGMC's 2015 Fall Conference will return to the Arrowwood Resort &

Conference Center in Alexandria. The two-day conference will be held Thursday,

Nov. 12-Friday, Nov. 13. Please mark your calendars!

Save the date!

Please mark your calendar for upcoming CGMC events and important dates:

• CGMC Summer Conference: July 22-24, 2015, Duluth

• CGMC Fall Conference: Nov. 12-13, 2015, Alexandria

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CGMC in Brief - Feb. 19, 2015 View this email in your browser

Newsletter for the Week of February 19, 2015

LGA getting attention; weigh in with your support! House and Senate versions of the local government aid (LGA) bill have now been

introduced. We are fortunate to have strong lead authors and good slate of bi-

partisan authors on both bills. Rep. Paul Anderson (R-Starbuck) is our champion

for HF 685 in the House, while Sen. Lyle Koenen (DFL-Clara City) is carrying SF

874 in the Senate. The legislation increases the LGA appropriation by $45.5 million

over two years to get the program back to its 2002 funding level.

The legislation is already getting positive attention, including this editorial from the

Duluth New Tribune. The editorial uses quotes from CGMC President Heidi

Omerza from this CGMC press release and notes the bi-partisan support for our

bills.

As the legislation advances, cities can help by passing a resolution in support of

LGA. A draft sample resolution can be found here. Please feel free to tailor it to

your city’s unique circumstances.

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If you have any questions about our efforts on LGA or property taxes in general,

please contact Bradley Peterson at [email protected].

CGMC, GMNP economic development proposals among rural senators’ top priorities The momentum is continuing to build at the Legislature on issues that affect

economic development in Greater Minnesota! A group of rural senators held a

press conference Wednesday to announce their top economic development

initiatives, and we were pleased to see that several of the CGMC and Greater

Minnesota Partnership proposals were highlighted, including bills we helped

develop on workforce housing, job training and the Greater Minnesota Business

Development Public Infrastructure (BDPI) Grant Program. You can read more

about the Senate's Greater Minnesota proposals here.

In response to the rural senators’ announcement, CGMC President Omerza issued

this statement expressing excitement about the focus on Greater Minnesota

economic development issues and her hope that the House will join the Senate in

support of these initiatives.

CGMC members sought to testify at legislative hearings The action at the Legislature is starting to heat up. Several CGMC bills are

currently scheduled for hearings and it would be helpful to have city officials or staff

members testify in support of them. The upcoming hearings on CGMC bills are:

• Workforce Housing - SF 764, authored by Sen. Dan Sparks (DFL-Austin),

is scheduled for a hearing at 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23 in the Jobs,

Agriculture and Rural Development Committee. The House companion, HF

749, authored by Rep. Rod Hamilton (R-Mountain Lake), is scheduled for a

hearing at 12:45 p.m. Thursday, March 5 in the Greater Minnesota

Economic and Workforce Development Policy Committee. If interested in

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testifying, please contact Dan Dorman at [email protected]. More information

on the workforce housing proposal can be found here.

• Environment – HF 616 (cost-benefit analysis) and HF 617 (independent

scientific peer review), both authored by Rep. Dan Fabian (R-Roseau), is

tentatively scheduled for a hearing at 8:15 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 26 in the

House Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee. If

interested in testifying, please contact Elizabeth Wefel at eawefel@flaherty-

hood.com. More information on the CGMC environmental bills can be found

here.

• Job Trainin g – HF 750 and HF 751, authored by Rep. Deb Kiel (R-

Crookston), will be heard at 12:45 p.m. Thursday, March 5 in the House

Greater Minnesota Economic and Workforce Development Policy Committee.

If interested in testifying, please contact Marty Seifert at mjseifert@flaherty-

hood.com. More information on the job training proposals can be found here.

• Transportation – The Senate Transportation and Public Safety Committee

is holding two informational hearings outside of St. Paul to provide

committee members with an opportunity to hear from the public about the

transportation needs in Greater Minnesota. The hearings will be at 11:30

a.m. Friday, Feb. 20 at St. Cloud City Hall and 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Feb.

27 at the Freeborn County Government Center in Albert Lea. If interested in

testifying, please contact Carolyn Jackson at [email protected].

BDPI legislation passes first hurdle in the House HF 578 and HF 579, authored by Rep. Mary Franson (R-Alexandria), passed its

first House committee hearing on Tuesday. The legislation provides $20 million in

funding and makes beneficial changes to the BDPI program, which helps cities

provide public infrastructure for private business growth. Here is a press release

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regarding the BDPI legislation and Tuesday’s hearing.

We’d like to thank CGMC President Heidi Omerza, GMNP Executive Director Dan

Dorman and Staples Community Development Director Jerel Nelsen for testifying

in support of the legislation before the Greater Minnesota Economic and Workforce

Development Policy Committee. The House bill will now move on to the Job Growth

and Energy Affordability Policy and Finance Committee.

The Senate companion bills, SF 763 and SF 386 (authored by Sen. Vicki Jensen,

DFL-Owatonna) have not yet been scheduled for a hearing. However, the BDPI

program was among the priorities cited by rural senators at their press conference

on Wednesday.

Governor highlights projects in transportation proposal Governor Dayton and MnDOT Commissioner Charlie Zelle held a press

conference to highlight projects statewide that would receive new funding under

the Governor’s transportation proposal. This press release includes a list of projects

by county, funding under the constitutional formula by community, and maps. It also

provides greater detail on what the Governor intends to fund, and highways in

Greater Minnesota do quite well. The proposal does not, however, provide any

new transportation funding for cities outside the constitutional formula or new

transportation funding for cities under 5,000.

Gov. Dayton and Commissioner Zelle traveled to Mankato on Wednesday to share

their plan as it would impact Highway 14 and southern Minnesota. They referenced

how much each county and MSA city would get under the 10-year proposal.

One of the blogs at the St. Paul Pioneer Press published a series of maps showing

where roads of different types are in Minnesota.

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Join us March 4 to lobby in support of CGMC priorities The bills on CGMC initiatives are off to a good start, but now it is time for our

members to make more noise at the Capitol! We’d like to invite elected officials

and staff members from all of our member cities to join us in lobbying for Greater

Minnesota priorities on Tuesday, March 4. Participants will assemble at the office

of Flaherty & Hood (525 Park St., Suite 470, St. Paul) at noon for a brief meeting

and legislative update before heading over to the Capitol to lobby their legislators.

A brief CGMC Board of Directors meeting will also be held at 11 a.m. that day.

Board members may attend in person or via conference call (call-in instructions will

be provided closer to the meeting date).

The League of Minnesota Cities Joint Legislative Conference for cities, townships,

schools and counties begins on the evening of March 4. Since many CGMC

members will be in St. Paul for that event, we figured it would be a great

opportunity to do some lobbying earlier in the day before the LMC conference

begins.

If you would like to join us for the CGMC lobby day on March 4, please RSVP to

Kasey Gerkovich at [email protected]. Participation is free, but we

request that you RSVP so that we can be sure to print enough lobbying materials.

Save the date!

Please mark your calendar for upcoming CGMC events and important dates:

• Board of Directors Meeting: 11 a.m., March 4, office of Flaherty &

Hood (525 Park St., Suite 470, St. Paul) or via conference call

• Lobby Day: 12 p.m., March 4, St. Paul (meet at Flaherty & Hood

office)

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• CGMC Summer Conference : July 22-24, 2015, Duluth

• CGMC Fall Conference: Nov. 12-13, 2015, Arrowwood Resort,

Alexandria

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Copyright © 2015 Flaherty & Hood, P.A., All rights reserved.

Visit us online at greatermncities.org

Our mailing add ress is:

Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities

525 Park St., Suite 470

St. Paul, MN 55103

Contact: Bradley Peterson at [email protected] or 651-259-1940

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Greater Minnesota Partnership's Economic Advantage View this email in your browser

New sletter for the w eek of Feb. 18 , 2015

GMNP proposals among leading rural senators’ top

priorit ies The momentum is continuing to build at the Legislature on issues that affect

economic development in Greater Minnesota! A group of Senators from across

Greater Minnesota held a press conference today to announce their top economic

development initiatives, and we were pleased to see that several GMNP proposals

were highlighted, including bills we support regarding workforce housing, job

training, the Greater Minnesota Business Development Public Infrastructure (BDPI)

Grant Program and broadband. You can read more about the Senate's Greater

Minnesota proposals here.

We look forward to continuing to work with legislators in both the House and

Senate, as well as the Governor’s office, to pass legislation on these important

issues this session.

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BDPI legisla t ion passes f irst hurdle in the House

HF 578 and HF 579, authored by Rep. Mary Franson (R-Alexandria), passed its

first House committee hearing on Tuesday. The legislation provides $20 million in

funding and makes beneficial changes to the BDPI program, which helps cities

provide public infrastructure for private business growth.

GMNP Executive Director Dan Dorman, Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities and

Ely City Council member Heidi Omerza and Staples Community Development

Director Jerel Nelsen testified in support of the legislation before the Greater

Minnesota Economic and Workforce Development Policy Committee. The response

from the committee was generally positive, but an urban legislator voiced concern

about protecting the state’s investment in the BDPI program and issues with

requiring DEED to fund 50 percent of the cost of a project. The GMNP believes

projects in Greater Minnesota should be funded at 50 percent, much like metro

projects that have received earmarks in the bonding bill.

The House bill will now move on to the Job Growth and Energy Affordability Policy

and Finance Committee. The Senate companion bills, SF 763 and SF 386 (authored

by Sen. Vicki Jensen , DFL-Owatonna) have not yet been scheduled for a hearing.

However, the BDPI program was among the priorities cited by leading rural

senators at the Senate Rural Task Force’s press conference earlier today.

Here is a press release from the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities regarding the

BDPI legislation.

W orkforce housing bill in t roduced

The GMNP’s workforce housing bill was introduced in the House and Senate last

week. SF 764, authored by Sen. Dan Sparks , DFL-Austin) and its House

companion, HF 749, authored by Rep. Rod Hamilton (R-Mountain Lake), would

provide tax credits and grants to encourage investors and developers to build

workforce housing in Greater Minnesota. More information on the legislation, which

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the GMNP helped develop, is provided in this press release.

The Senate bill is scheduled for its first hearing at 2 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 23 in

the Jobs, Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, which is chaired by Sen.

Sparks. The House bill is scheduled for its first hearing at 12:45 p.m. on March 5 in

the Greater Minnesota Economic and Workforce Development Policy Committee.

The GMNP is looking for people who are willing to come to the Capitol to testify in

favor of the bills. It would be particularly helpful to hear from the business

community. If you would like to testify, or if you think there is someone else we

should contact about testifying, please contact Dan Dorman at [email protected].

Job t ra ining bills scheduled for hear ing in Senate

Like the workforce housing bill, the GMNP’s job training bills are also scheduled to

receive their first hearing before the Senate Jobs, Agriculture and Rural Development

Committee on Monday, Feb. 23. SF 525 and SF 526, both authored by Sen. David

Tomassoni , DFL-Chisholm, advocate for the creation of a fast, flexible, employer-

driven job training program.

If you would like to testify in support of the bill at Monday’s hearing, or if you would

like us to contact someone else who you think would be a good testifier, please

contact Dan Dorman at [email protected].

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The Greater Minnesota Partnership brings together b usinesses, economic

development organizations, local governments and no n-profits to promote

and advocate for economic prosperity in Greater Min nesota.

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Copyright © 2015 Flaherty & Hood, P.A., All rights reserved.

Questions? Contact:

Executive Director Dan Dorman

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 612-245-5204

Our mailing address is:

Greater Minnesota Partnership

Flaherty & Hood, P.A.

525 Park St., Suite 470

St. Paul, MN 55103

Visit us online at gmnp.org.