1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to rural development; creating a pilot project for community design that 
1.3 	addresses community assets, needs, and goals for growth in culture, arts, humanities, 
1.4 	recreation, and community design in greater Minnesota; appropriating money.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. GREATER MINNESOTA COMMUNITY DESIGN PILOT PROJECT.
 1.7 		Subdivision 1.Creation. The Minnesota Design Center at the University of Minnesota 
1.8 	shall partner with relevant organizations and greater Minnesota communities to establish a 
1.9 	pilot project for community design. The pilot project shall identify current and future 
1.10 	opportunities for rural development, create designs, seek funding from existing sources, 
1.11 	and assist with the implementation of economically, environmentally, and culturally sensitive 
1.12 	projects that respond to current community conditions, needs, capabilities, and aspirations 
1.13 	in support of the communities as good places to live, work, and play. For the purposes of 
1.14 	this section, "greater Minnesota" means the area of Minnesota outside of the metropolitan 
1.15 	area as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2.
1.16 		Subd. 2.Pilot project activities. Among other activities, the pilot project, in partnership 
1.17 	with relevant organizations and greater Minnesota communities, shall:
1.18 	(1) assess community capacity to engage in design, development, and implementation;
1.19 	(2) create community and project designs that respond to a community's culture and 
1.20 	needs, reinforce its identity as a special place, and support its future aspirations;
1.21 	(3) create an implementation strategy;
2.1 	(4) build capacity to implement design work by identifying potential funding strategies 
2.2 	and sources and assisting in grant writing to secure funding;
2.3 	(5) create graphic designs for community use; and
2.4 	(6) work with the Minnesota Conservation Corps' youth and adult programs to implement 
2.5 	those community projects appropriate to the Corps' participation.

2.6 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 2.7 	$500,000 in fiscal year 2018 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner 
2.8 	of employment and economic development for a grant to the Minnesota Design Center at 
2.9 	the University of Minnesota for the purpose of the greater Minnesota community design 
2.10 	pilot project under section 1. This is a onetime appropriation.