Subdivision 1. Establishment. A workforce and affordable homeownership development program is established to award homeownership development grants to cities, tribal governments, nonprofit organizations, cooperatives created under chapter 308A or 308B, and community land trusts created for the purposes outlined in section 462A.31, subdivision 1, for development of workforce and affordable homeownership projects. The purpose of the program is to increase the supply of workforce and affordable, owner-occupied multifamily or single-family housing throughout Minnesota.
Subd. 2. Use of funds. (a) Grant funds awarded under this program may be used for:
(1) development costs;
(2) rehabilitation;
(3) land development; and
(4) residential housing, including storm shelters and related community facilities.
(b) A project funded through the grant program shall serve households that meet the income limits as provided in section 462A.33, subdivision 5, unless a project is intended for the purpose outlined in section 462A.02, subdivision 6.
Subd. 3. Application. The commissioner shall develop forms and procedures for soliciting and reviewing applications for grants under this section. The commissioner shall consult with interested stakeholders when developing the guidelines and procedures for the program. In making grants, the commissioner shall establish semiannual application deadlines in which grants will be authorized from all or part of the available appropriations.
Subd. 4. Awarding grants. Among comparable proposals, preference must be given to proposals that include contributions from nonstate resources for the greatest portion of the total development cost.
Subd. 5. Statewide program. The agency shall attempt to make grants in approximately equal amounts to applicants outside and within the metropolitan area.
Subd. 6. Report. Beginning January 15, 2018, the commissioner must annually submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the senate and house of representatives committees having jurisdiction over housing and workforce development specifying the projects that received grants under this section and the specific purposes for which the grant funds were used.
History:2016 c 189 art 7 s 41; 1Sp2019 c 1 art 6 s 28