1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to economic development; appropriating grant funds to support the 
1.3 	Somali community; requiring reports.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. APPROPRIATION.
 1.6 	(a) $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2017 is appropriated from the general fund to the 
1.7 	commissioner of employment and economic development for a grant to an organization 
1.8 	that supports positive youth development, community engagement, legal services, and 
1.9 	capacity building for community-based organizations serving Somali youth, including 
1.10 	through youth empowerment, education, social entrepreneurship, and training activities 
1.11 	that help the economic and community development of the Somali Minnesotan community 
1.12 	and address racial disparity challenges facing Somali youth. Funded projects must provide 
1.13 	culturally and linguistically relevant services and a portion of the funding must be 
1.14 	distributed in greater Minnesota.
1.15 	(b) Grant recipients must annually report to the commissioner of employment and 
1.16 	economic development by July 31 of each year on the services, programs, and initiatives 
1.17 	provided; expenditures of grant money; and an evaluation of the program's success in 
1.18 	youth economic and community development in the Somali community.
1.19 	(c) The commissioner shall compile the grant recipient reports, and by November 1 
1.20 	of each year, the commissioner shall submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority 
1.21 	members of the senate and house of representatives committees and divisions having 
1.22 	jurisdiction over employment and economic development policy and funding with any 
1.23 	legislative recommendations, including additional grant funding, empowerment strategies, 
2.1 	or education, social entrepreneurship, and training models to support Somali Minnesotans 
2.2 	and enhance economic and community development for youth in the Somali community.