Legislation proposes $1.5 million grant to boost work of Hmong American Partnership

Mo Chang’s dream started with her parents, who sold fruits and vegetables at the Minneapolis Farmer's Market. She opened Mo’s Tropical Market, with a range of ingredients and produce such as papayas, jackfruit and dragon fruit. Based on the community response, Chang saw the opportunity to expand into wholesale. 

The Hmong American Partnership understood her vision, Chang said, and invested $100,000 that allowed her to secure a 28,000-square-foot warehouse in St. Paul to open Mo’s Tropical Wholesale.

The House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee held over a bill Tuesday to expand the capacity of the organization that helped her.

As amended, HF110 would appropriate $500,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $1 million in fiscal year 2027 from the workforce development fund for a grant to the partnership to provide job training, employment, technical, lending and financial services. It was laid over for possible inclusion in a larger bill.

The Hmong American Partnership has a proven record of driving workforce and economic development, said Rep. Samakab Hussein (DFL-St. Paul), the bill sponsor.

Founded in 1990, the organization serves more than 25,000 people with services such as job training, career readiness and technical support targeting Southeast Asian and immigrant communities. Its Community Development Financial Institution has lent more than $1 million — often to businesses deemed too risky by traditional lenders.

Repaid loans are reinvested in the community, said May yer Thao, the partnership’s president and CEO. The organization offers pre- and post-loan technical assistance, such as reviewing business plans.