St. Paul; funding provided for construction mitigation grants to businesses affected by construction on Arcade Street and East 7th Street, report required, and money appropriated.

HF 2427 provides $2.2 million in state funding for grants to small businesses in St. Paul (employing 25 or fewer people) that face significant disruptions like reduced access or parking during the Department of Transportation's construction and redesign of Arcade Street and East 7th Street. The grants cover payroll, operating, or facility costs during the project, but cannot fund bonuses, new equipment, or construction. The commissioner of employment and economic development must distribute funds through local nonprofits, prioritizing businesses based on revenue decline, construction duration, and traffic disruption severity. A report detailing all grants must be submitted annually starting January 2027.