1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to employment and economic development;
1.3 	appropriating money for grants for minority business
1.4 	development programs and for purposes of the
1.5 	Procurement Technical Assistance Center.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. APPROPRIATION.
 1.8 	(a) $155,000 in fiscal year 2006 and $155,000 in fiscal
1.9 	year 2007 are appropriated from the general fund to the
1.10 	commissioner of employment and economic development for grants
1.11 	to the Metropolitan Economic Development Association for
1.12 	continuing minority business development programs in the
1.13 	metropolitan area.  These programs include one-on-one business
1.14 	consulting, marketing assistance, providing and arranging
1.15 	financing, and training and leadership development.  These
1.16 	appropriations are part of the department's budget base.
1.17 	(b) $150,000 in fiscal year 2006 and $150,000 in fiscal
1.18 	year 2007 are appropriated from the general fund to the
1.19 	commissioner of employment and economic development for grants
1.20 	to the Metropolitan Economic Development Association for the
1.21 	purposes of the Procurement Technical Assistance Center.  These
1.22 	grants are to assist the center in connecting Minnesota
1.23 	businesses with government contract opportunities, obtaining
1.24 	more federal contracts to better leverage federal expenditures
1.25 	for economic growth, and creating and retaining jobs in
2.1 	Minnesota.  These appropriations are part of the department's
2.2 	budget base.