MN HF2872

Establishes a pilot grant program administered by the Commissioner of Employment and Economic Development to provide grants to eligible regional development commissions and regional initiative foundations in greater Minnesota counties with no more than 60,000 residents.

Eligible organizations must demonstrate existing local economic development initiatives marketing regional assets through enhanced digital content and show that communities in their service area are engaged in collaborative regional marketing and active social media campaigns.

Grants may be used for operating costs (staff, office space, computers, software, travel, Web development), training community ambassadors, building social media infrastructure, and Web development with preference given to Minnesota-based contractors with at least three years of economic development marketing experience.

Requires all grant awards to be matched with 25 percent nonstate resources and mandates that final Web solutions be integrated with the Minnesota LocationOne Information System or its successor.

Appropriates an unspecified amount from the general fund in fiscal year 2017 as a onetime appropriation for the program.