STATE OF MINNESOTA SEVENTEENTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-NINTH SESSION
GREATER MINNESOTA ECONOMIC &
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT POLICY COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Representative Bob Gunther, Chair of the Greater Minnesota Economic & Workforce Development Policy Committee, called the meeting to order at 12:48 p.m. on March 10th, 2015, in the Basement Hearing Room of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
GUNTHER, Bob, Chair
GREEN, Steve,Vice Chair
BARRETT, Bob
DILL, David
GAROFALO, Pat
HANCOCK, Dave
JOHNSON, Brian
KIEL, Debra
LIEN, Ben
MAHONEY, Tim
MILLER, Tim
MORAN, Rena
NORTON, Kim
O’NEILL, Marion
SUNDIN, Mike
A quorum was present.
Representative Hancock moved that the minutes of Thursday, March 5th, 2015 be approved. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Chair Gunther moved that HF1125 (Simonson) be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Committee on Job Growth and Energy Affordability Policy and Finance.
Testifying before committee were the following in favor of HF1125:
Sandi Larson, Business Development Professional, UMD Center for Economic Development.
Representative Simonson presented HF1125 (Small business development center program funding provided, and money appropriated.)
Chair Gunther renewed the motion that HF1125 pass, and be re-referred to the committee on Job Growth and Energy Affordability Policy and Finance. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Vice Chair Green assumed the gavel at 1:00 p.m.
Chair Gunther moved that HF1149 (Gunther) be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Committee on Job Growth and Energy Affordability Policy and Finance.
Chair Gunther presented HF1149 (Enterprise Minnesota, Inc. grant provided by commissioner of employment and economic development, and money appropriated.)
Testifying before committee were the following in favor of HF1149:
Bob Kill, President & CEO, Enterprise Minnesota;
Joel Wittenbraker, President & CEO, MachTech, Inc., Redwing, Mn;
Mike Jensen, President, Gauthier Industries, Rochester, Mn.
Chair Gunther renewed the motion that HF1149 pass, and be re-referred to the committee on Job Growth and Energy Affordability Policy and Finance. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Chair Gunther moved that HF807 (Gunther) be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Committee on Job Growth and Energy Affordability Policy and Finance.
Chair Gunther presented HF807 (Redevelopment grant funding provided, and money appropriated).
Testifying before committee were the following in favor of HF807:
Meredith Udoibok, Director, Office of Brownfields and Redevelopment, DEED.
Chair Gunther renewed the motion that HF807 pass, and be re-referred to the committee on Job Growth and Energy Affordability Policy and Finance. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Chair Gunther assumed the gavel at 1:15 p.m.
Chair Gunther moved that HF1386 (Johnson, C.) be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Committee on Job Growth and Energy Affordability Policy and Finance.
Representative Johnson, C. presented HF1386 (Center for Rural Policy and Development funding provided, and money appropriated).
Testifying before committee were the following in favor of HF1386:
Brad Finstad, Executive Director, Center for Rural Policy & Development.
Chair Gunther renewed the motion that HF1386 pass, and be re-referred to the committee on Job Growth and Energy Affordability Policy and Finance. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Mahoney moved that HF1175 (Mahoney) be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Committee on Job Growth and Energy Affordability Policy and Finance.
Representative Mahoney moved the H1175DE2 amendment.
Representative Mahoney moved the oral amendment to H1175DE2 as follows:
Page 1, Line 1.8 - delete “.650” and change to “.560”.
THE MOTION PREVAILED, THE AMENDMENT AS AMENDED, WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Mahoney presented HF1175 (Brownfields revitalization and restoration loan and grant funding provided, and money appropriated).
Representative Mahoney renewed the motion that HF1175 pass, as amended and be re-referred to the committee on Job Growth and Energy Affordability Policy and Finance. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Chair Gunther moved that HF1515 (Peterson) be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Committee on Agriculture Finance.
Representative Peterson presented HF1515 (Ka Joog grant funding provided for a job skills and workforce development pilot program; Takeoff 4-H STEAM funding provided for Somali youth, and money appropriated).
Testifying before committee were the following in favor of HF1515:
Mohamed Farah, Executive Director, Ka Joog.
Testifying before committee were the following against HF1515:
Lucas Balyeat, Union 49, St. Anthony, Mn.
Chair Gunther renewed the motion that HF1515 pass, and be re-referred to the committee on Agriculture Finance. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Vice Chair Green moved that HF1136 (Dean) be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Committee on Job Growth and Energy Affordability Policy and Finance.
Representative Dean presented HF1136 (Performance-based grants provided, and money appropriated).
Testifying before committee were the following in favor of HF1136:
Tom Streitz, President & CEO, Twin Cities RISE.
Vice Chair Green renewed the motion that HF1136 pass, and be re-referred to the committee on Job Growth and Energy Affordability Policy and Finance. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:04 p.m.
Bob Gunther, Chair
Rebecca Meade, Committee Legislative Assistant