Subdivision 1. Created. The Minnesota 21st century fund is created as a separate account in the treasury. Money in the account is appropriated to the commissioner of employment and economic development for the purposes of this section. All money earned by the account, loan repayments of principal and interest, and earnings on investments must be credited to the account. For the purpose of this section, "fund" means the Minnesota 21st century fund. The commissioner shall operate the account as a revolving account.
Subd. 2. Use of fund. The commissioner shall use money in the fund to make loans, including forgivable loans, equity investments, or grants for infrastructure in mineral, steel, or any other industry processing, production, manufacturing, or technology project that would enhance the economic diversification and that is located within the taconite assistance area as defined under section 273.1341. The commissioner must, prior to making any loans or equity investments and after consultation with industry and public officials, develop a strategy for making loans, equity investments, or grants for infrastructure that assists the taconite assistance area in retaining and enhancing its economic competitiveness. Money in the fund may also be used to pay for the costs of carrying out the commissioner's due diligence duties under this section.
Subd. 2a. Grants authorized. Notwithstanding subdivision 2, the commissioner may use money in the fund to make grants to a municipality or county, or to a county regional rail authority as appropriate, for public infrastructure needed to support an eligible project under this section. Grant money may be used by the municipality, county, or regional rail authority to acquire right-of-way and mitigate loss of wetlands and runoff of stormwater; to predesign, design, construct, and equip roads and rail lines; and, in cooperation with municipal utilities, to predesign, design, construct, and equip natural gas pipelines, electric infrastructure, water supply systems, and wastewater collection and treatment systems. Grants made under this subdivision are available until expended.
Subd. 3. Requirements prior to committing funds. The commissioner, prior to making a commitment for a loan or equity investment must, at a minimum, conduct due diligence research regarding the proposed loan or equity investment, including contracting with professionals as needed to assist in the due diligence.
Subd. 4. Requirements for fund disbursements. The commissioner may make conditional commitments for loans or equity investments but disbursements of funds pursuant to a commitment may not be made until commitments for the remainder of a project's funding are made that are satisfactory to the commissioner and disbursements made from the other commitments sufficient to protect the interests of the state in its loan or investment.
Subd. 5. Company contribution. The commissioner may provide loans or equity investments that match, in a proportion determined by the commissioner, an investment made by the owner of a facility.
1999 c 223 art 2 s 23; 1Sp2003 c 4 s 1; 2008 c 179 s 38; 2014 c 312 art 3 s 5; 2016 c 189 art 7 s 14; 2017 c 94 art 7 s 9
Structure Minnesota Statutes
Chapters 116J - 116O — Economic Development And Planning
Chapter 116J — Employment And Economic Development
Section 116J.01 — Department Of Employment And Economic Development.
Section 116J.0124 — Plain Language In Written Materials.
Section 116J.0125 — Annual Report To Legislature.
Section 116J.013 — Cost-of-living Study; Annual Report.
Section 116J.014 — Cooperation With Other State Agencies.
Section 116J.03 — Definitions.
Section 116J.035 — Powers Of Commissioner; Rules.
Section 116J.401 — Designation; Duties; Data.
Section 116J.4011 — Labor Market Information Data Production Requirement.
Section 116J.407 — Dairy Modernization.
Section 116J.39 — Office Of Broadband Development.
Section 116J.391 — Coordination Of Broadband Infrastructure Development.
Section 116J.394 — Definitions.
Section 116J.395 — Border-to-border Broadband Development Grant Program.
Section 116J.3951 — Broadband Line Extension Program.
Section 116J.396 — Border-to-border Broadband Fund.
Section 116J.397 — Updated Broadband Deployment Data And Maps.
Section 116J.398 — Broadband Prevailing Wage Exemption.
Section 116J.399 — Broadband Easements.
Section 116J.411 — Definitions.
Section 116J.412 — Account Allocation.
Section 116J.415 — Challenge Grant Program.
Section 116J.417 — Greater Minnesota Child Care Facility Capital Grant Program.
Section 116J.421 — Rural Policy And Development Center.
Section 116J.4221 — Rural Policy And Development Center Fund.
Section 116J.423 — Minnesota 21st Century Fund.
Section 116J.424 — Iron Range Resources And Rehabilitation Contribution.
Section 116J.431 — Greater Minnesota Business Development Public Infrastructure Grant Program.
Section 116J.435 — Innovative Business Development Public Infrastructure Grant Program.
Section 116J.436 — Transportation Economic Development Infrastructure Program.
Section 116J.437 — Coordinating Economic Development And Environmental Policy.
Section 116J.438 — Minnesota Green Enterprise Assistance.
Section 116J.439 — Airport Infrastructure Renewal (air) Grant Program.
Section 116J.548 — Host Community Economic Development Grants.
Section 116J.5491 — Energy Transition Office.
Section 116J.5492 — Energy Transition Advisory Committee.
Section 116J.5493 — Minnesota Energy Transition Plan.
Section 116J.55 — Community Energy Transition Grants.
Section 116J.571 — Creation Of Accounts.
Section 116J.572 — Definitions.
Section 116J.574 — Grant Applications.
Section 116J.5762 — Loan Applications.
Section 116J.5763 — Priorities.
Section 116J.5764 — Loan Terms And Conditions.
Section 116J.5765 — Nonliability.
Section 116J.578 — Bioscience Subsidy.
Section 116J.60 — Promotional Expenses.
Section 116J.617 — Tourism Loan Program.
Section 116J.63 — Sale Of Pamphlets And Publications; Fees; Advertising.
Section 116J.64 — Loans To Indians.
Section 116J.658 — Minnesota Science And Technology Economic Development Project.
Section 116J.871 — Financial Assistance Limitations; Prevailing Wage.
Section 116J.872 — Economic Response Team.
Section 116J.8731 — Minnesota Investment Fund.
Section 116J.8732 — Seed Capital Investment Credit; Commissioner's Responsibilities.
Section 116J.8737 — Small Business Investment Tax Credit.
Section 116J.8738 — Qualified Expansions Of Greater Minnesota Businesses.
Section 116J.8745 — Microenterprise Entrepreneurial Assistance.
Section 116J.8747 — Job Training Program Grant.
Section 116J.8748 — Minnesota Job Creation Fund.
Section 116J.8749 — Main Street Economic Revitalization Program.
Section 116J.551 — Creation Of Accounts.
Section 116J.552 — Definitions.
Section 116J.553 — Grant Applications.
Section 116J.555 — Priorities.
Section 116J.556 — Local Match Requirement.
Section 116J.557 — Cost Recovery Actions.
Section 116J.558 — Effect Of Issuance Of Grants.
Section 116J.66 — Business Assistance.
Section 116J.68 — Bureau Of Small Business.
Section 116J.69 — Uniform Business Licensing Policy.
Section 116J.70 — Definitions.
Section 116J.71 — New Licenses.
Section 116J.72 — Existing Licenses.
Section 116J.73 — Bureau Of Business Licenses; Declaration Of Purpose.
Section 116J.74 — Definitions.
Section 116J.76 — General Functions; Powers And Duties.
Section 116J.77 — Assistance Of Other Agencies.
Section 116J.78 — Comprehensive License Information.
Section 116J.79 — Preapplication Conferences.
Section 116J.80 — Master Application Procedure.
Section 116J.81 — License Coordination And Assistance To Applicants.
Section 116J.82 — Consolidated Hearings.
Section 116J.83 — License Authority Retained.
Section 116J.84 — Services Provided At No Charge.
Section 116J.85 — Federal And Local Government Participation.
Section 116J.86 — Compilation And Maintenance Of Statistical Data.
Section 116J.876 — Definitions.
Section 116J.8761 — Capital Access Program; Creation; Administration.
Section 116J.8762 — Commissioner; Duties.
Section 116J.8763 — Eligible Loans.
Section 116J.8764 — Enrollment Of Loans In Program.
Section 116J.8765 — Reserve Fund; Premiums.
Section 116J.8766 — Claims By Lender To Reserve Fund.
Section 116J.8767 — Subrogation Of Claims.
Section 116J.8768 — Excess Reserve Funds.
Section 116J.8769 — Termination.
Section 116J.8770 — Equity Investments.
Section 116J.881 — Small Business Loan Guarantee Program.
Section 116J.955 — Rural Rehabilitation Revolving Account.
Section 116J.966 — Commissioner's Trade Promotion Duties.
Section 116J.976 — State Approval Of Government Procurement Agreements.
Section 116J.978 — Minnesota Trade Offices In Foreign Markets.
Section 116J.9781 — Invest Minnesota.
Section 116J.979 — Minnesota Step Grants.
Section 116J.980 — Community Development.
Section 116J.982 — Community Development Corporations.
Section 116J.9922 — Central Minnesota Opportunity Grant Program.
Section 116J.9923 — Telecommuter Forward! Certification.
Section 116J.9924 — Targeted Community Capital Project Grant Program.
Section 116J.993 — Definitions.
Section 116J.994 — Regulating Local And State Business Subsidies.
Section 116J.995 — Economic Grants.
Section 116J.996 — Military Reservist Economic Injury And Veteran-owned Small Business Loans.