Purpose

To appropriate funds for a youth programming project that helps disadvantaged young people prepare for work and education through mentorship and career exploration.

Main Provisions

• Financial appropriation: $500,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 in fiscal year 2027.
• Source and recipient: Funds come from the Workforce Development Fund and are given to the commissioner of employment and economic development to administer a grant.
• Grantee: Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities.
• Program focus: Provide disadvantaged youth ages 12 to 21 with jobseeking skills, connections to job training and education opportunities, and mentorship while exploring careers.
• Geographic scope: Service to Big Brothers Big Sisters chapters in the Twin Cities, central Minnesota, and southern Minnesota.
• Nature of funding: This is a one-time appropriation.

What the Bill Seeks to Accomplish

• Help disadvantaged youth develop practical skills for seeking and securing work.
• Create pathways to job training and educational opportunities.
• Offer mentorship and career exploration support to youth in the specified regions.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Introduces a one-time appropriation specifically funding a Big Brothers Big Sisters program focused on workforce development and youth employment preparation. No permanent policy changes to programs or statutes are described beyond this funding.

Implementation Context

• The grant is administered by the commissioner of employment and economic development through the Workforce Development Fund and is targeted to a single nonprofit organization for a defined period (fiscal years 2026 and 2027).

Relevant Terms - Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities - workforce development fund - commissioner of employment and economic development - disadvantaged youth - jobseeking skills - job training - education opportunities - mentorship - exploring careers - Twin Cities - central Minnesota - southern Minnesota - one-time appropriation - fiscal year 2026 - fiscal year 2027