Builders Association of Minnesota Executives,
I’m happy to announce that the bills asking the legislature for workforce development dollars to enhance our Project Build Minnesota efforts have been introduced in each body. The numbers are HF3810 and SF3430. The language is for $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2019 appropriated from the workforce development fund. The single-year request in 2019 reflects the second year of the current two-year budget, which begins on July 1. Additional funding requests beyond 2019 would be made in that two-year budget cycle, which will commence next Spring.
In the House of Representatives, Rep. Regina Barr (Inver Grove Heights) is the chief author with co-authors Reps. Garofalo, Peterson and Nash. Of importance, this bill will initially go to Rep. Garofalo’s Job Growth Committee, so having him as a co-author is encouraging.
In the Senate, Sen. Rich Draheim (Madison Lake) is the chief author with co-authors Sens. Lang, Goggin and Johnson.
Additionally, Housing First Minnesota, ABC, BAM and MNLA have had great discussions with legislators from throughout the state during their respective days at the Capitol. Now that the bills have been introduced, they have been referred to their respective Jobs committees and await future discussion that will occur in the coming weeks.
We will undoubtedly need your support and the engagement of all of our members to make this happen. It’s never easy asking for money at the Capitol, and we heard repeatedly at our Day at the Capitol yesterday that the demands on the surplus will be powerful. We have our work cut out for us but working together with a powerful focus, I believe we can make a difference.
Please share this with your membership and ask them to talk to their local State Legislators and support these bills. Remember Project Build Minnesota is trying to reduce the construction workforce shortage that exists and help our local contractors.
We’ll continue to keep everyone informed as the process progresses.
Dennis Medo, Executive Director
Project Build Minnesota
1123 Glenwood Ave. Minneapolis, MN. 55405
612-221-9849 dennis@projectbuildmn.org