MN SF3221

Commissioner of employment and economic development shall produce an easy-to-understand manual to instruct aspiring business owners how to start a child care business, with funds appropriated for fiscal year 2017 and available until June 30, 2019.

Commissioner shall consult with relevant state and local agencies and affected stakeholders to produce the manual and make it available electronically to interested persons.

Appropriation provided in fiscal year 2017 for grants to local communities to develop and implement community solution action plans to sustain and increase the supply of quality child care providers.

Grant funds may be used for child care business start-up or expansion, training, facility modifications or improvements for licensing, and assistance with licensing and regulatory requirements, with priority given to greater Minnesota communities with documented child care provider shortages.

Grant recipients must report to the commissioner by September 30, 2017 on outcomes including number of new providers, jobs created, additional child care slots, and local funds invested; commissioner must report to relevant legislative committees by January 1, 2018.