Economic panel approves $10.22 million supplemental finance bill

Two major sporting events, film production programs, and several economic development programs focusing on marginalized communities are slated to be the beneficiaries of a $10.22 million supplemental finance bill.

Rep. Hodan Hassan (DFL-Mpls) sponsors the bill approved by the House Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee Wednesday. She said it has a good mix of funding to benefit residents across the state.

Next up for HF3449, as amended, is the House Ways and Means Committee.

It would aid both businesses and workers, Hassan said, and its impact would be felt from the Twin Cities, where communities are still trying to recover from pandemic shutdowns and civil unrest, all the way to the Arrowhead region of the state.

But there is also a secondary theme.

Hassan said some of the financing favors groups that have traditionally been and continue to be marginalized and discriminated against due to systemic racism. “Minnesota still leads the nation in racial and ethnic disparities. We have to be intentional about doing this work.”

Proposed appropriations

The committee oversees funding for the economic development programs of two state agencies: Department of Employment and Economic Development and Explore Minnesota Tourism.

DEED items funded in the bill include:

• $2.5 million for Launch MN;
• $1 million for the Entrepreneur Fund;
• $1 million for the Coalition of Asian American Leaders;
• $800,000 for the New American Development Center;
• $500,000 for the Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency;
• $500,000 for the Asian Economic Development Association; and
• $497,000 for Propel Nonprofits.

Funds for Explore Minnesota include:

• $1.25 million for the Explore Minnesota Film Office, including its film production jobs program;
• $1 million for the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games;
• $1 million for the 2026 World Junior Hockey Championship; and
• $400,000 to Ka Joog for Somali community and cultural festivals and events.

All funding is onetime for fiscal year 2025 from the General Fund, except for the film office funding, which would also get $1.65 million in the 2026-27 biennium.

[MORE: View the spreadsheet]

Committee staff said the plan is to merge the bill with the House Workforce Development Finance and Policy Committee supplemental finance bill (HF5205) when the two are heard in the House Ways and Means Committee.

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What’s in the bill?

The following are selected bills that have been incorporated in whole or in part into the economic development finance bill:

• HF3934 (Norris)
• HF4039 (Kotyza-Witthuhn)
• HF4097 (Hemmingsen-Jaeger)
• HF4123 (Lillie)
• HF4532 (Lislegard)
• HF4773 (Vang)
• HF4784 (Hussein)
• HF5256 (Igo)