This bill expands eligibility for Metropolitan Council grant programs to include Tribal governments and Tribal development entities in seven Minnesota counties. It modifies state statutes to formally recognize Tribal entities alongside cities, counties, and other development authorities when applying for funding related to housing initiatives, community development, and environmental projects like tree planting and forest management. The changes allow Tribal governments to receive grants for affordable housing projects, local housing incentives, and environmental improvements such as shade tree planting and climate-adapted forest establishment, provided they meet the same distribution criteria and matching fund requirements as other eligible recipients.
This bill allows Tribal governments and Tribal development entities to apply for funding from the Metropolitan Council's grant programs in seven Minnesota counties. The legislation updates state statutes to include Tribes alongside cities, counties, and other development authorities as eligible recipients for grants related to housing initiatives, community development, and environmental tree projects. Key provisions expand the definition of "development authority" to explicitly include Tribal governments and modify grant distribution rules to permit funds to go to Tribes for projects in participating municipalities. The changes apply to the Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington counties and take effect the day after final enactment.
