Posts by etcliff
GMNP 2026 Legislative Session Wrap-Up
GMNP 2026 Legislative Session Wrap-Up Click to view the recording of the GMNP Legislative Wrap-Up webinar on May 22, 2026. The webinar slides are available here. The full session wrap-up report is available here. Contact: info@gmnp.org (651) 259-1908 Categories Broadband (3) Capital investment (5) Child care (9) Economic development (21) Event Archives (1) Grants and…
Read MoreLegislature passes housing package days before the end of the session
GMNP 2026 Legislative Session Wrap-Up A Housing bill full of compromise was passed by the House and Senate and sent off to the Governor on May 13. The Housing Conference Committee, having only met twice to work out the two bills, created a bill that makes key investments in housing, as well as fits some…
Read MoreAs the 2026 legislative session comes to a close, key bills the GMNP is watching
GMNP 2026 Legislative Session Wrap-Up As the Legislature enters into its final two weeks of session, the GMNP is still actively following numerous bills related to GMNP priorities on housing, workforce devlopment, small business supports, and more. See the full list of bills we are tracking below. S.F. 3695 (Port) – Federal immigration enforcement operation…
Read MoreSenate unveils omnibus tax bill with provision for property taxes
GMNP 2026 Legislative Session Wrap-Up Earlier this week, the Senate Taxes Committee released its omnibus tax bill (S.F. 5052), which passed out of committee on April 30. Inlcuded in the bill is a provision relating to property taxes. This provision is a one-time appropriation of $100.8 million (+12%) for the homestead credit refund program. The…
Read MoreRFP for early childhood facilities now open through DCYF
GMNP 2026 Legislative Session Wrap-Up The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), through its Child Care Services Division, is seeking proposals from qualified responders to predesign, design, construct or renovate facilities for early childhood learning programs under the Early Childhood Facilities Grant Program. The Department expects the term of any contracts resulting from this…
Read MoreThe State of Rural 2026 report published
GMNP 2026 Legislative Session Wrap-Up The Center for Rural Policy and Development recently released their annual report on the state of various economic and demographic indicators in rural Minnesota. The report covers population growth, migration, and demographic shifts, economic and workforce trends, and compares current data to past trends and future projections. You can view…
Read MoreSenate Committee hears bill with funding & policy changes for Greater Minnesota Housing Infrastructure Grant program
GMNP 2026 Legislative Session Wrap-Up On March 23, the Senate Housing and Homeless Committee heard S.F. 4571, authored by Sen. Grant Hauschild. This bill provides $15 million in General Obligation bonds to the Greater Minnesota Housing Infrastructure Grant program and also makes a policy change to the program to allow these funds to support housing development funded through…
Read MoreGMNP at the Legislature: Key bills the GMNP is watching
GMNP 2026 Legislative Session Wrap-Up Recent bills that are key to the GMNP’s 2026 legislative priorities include: S.F. 3664 (Champion) – Agency policy bill. S.F. 3839 (Port) – Housing infrastructure bond issue and appropriation. H.F. 3600 (Perryman) – Competitive selection processes modified for certain housing development programs. S.F. 4123 / H.F. 3895 (Port / Igo) – Zoning authority of local governments over certain housing types limited. S.F. 4158 (Jasinski) – BDPI bond…
Read MoreDEED to host webinar on child care infrastructure
GMNP 2026 Legislative Session Wrap-Up As part of Business of Child Care’s ongoing virtual series highlighting opportunities of the moment, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) will be hosting a focused conversation on child care as economic development infrastructure. The session will be hosted by Jeff Andrews, President of Business of Child Care, and…
Read MoreGMNP announces 2026 policy priorities
GMNP 2026 Legislative Session Wrap-Up The GMNP 2026 legislative platform renews the Partnership’s focus on ensuring Greater Minnesota communities and businesses have the resources they need to thrive. In 2026, the GMNP will work to secure funding for critical housing, workforce development, child care, and broadband programs, and push for a bonding bill that meets…
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