Purpose

• The bill provides capital investment funding for the St. Louis County Heritage and Arts Center (also known as the Depot) in Duluth. It authorizes the sale of state bonds and directs a grant to St. Louis County to preserve and expand the Depot facility.

Main provisions

• Appropriation: $8,000,000 is appropriated from the bond proceeds fund to the commissioner of employment and economic development to make a grant to St. Louis County for asset preservation and expansion of the Depot.
• Project scope: The funds will cover predesign, design, construction, and renovation work, focusing on replacement or improvements to mechanical, electrical, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, and life-safety elements of the building.
• Availability condition: The appropriation may not be spent until the commissioner of management and budget determines that at least $5,671,000 in nonstate (private, local, or other nonstate) sources has been committed to complete the project.
• Bond financing: The commissioner of management and budget shall sell and issue state bonds up to $8,000,000 from the bond proceeds fund, under the terms and effects described in Minnesota statutes 16A.631 to 16A.675 and in the Minnesota Constitution Article XI, sections 4 to 7.

Funding and financing details

• Source: Bond proceeds fund.
  
• Amount: Up to $8,000,000 in bond proceeds.
  
• Recipient: Grant to St. Louis County for asset preservation and expansion of the Depot.
  
• Conditions: Availability tied to a minimum $5,671,000 of nonstate funding commitment.
  
• Legal framework: Bond issuance governed by Minnesota Statutes 16A.631–16A.675 and Constitution Article XI.

Significant changes / impact

• Establishes a new state-aid grant and bond financing package specifically for the St. Louis County Heritage and Arts Center (Depot) in Duluth.
• Adds a funding condition requiring substantial nonstate support before the state funds can be used.
• Expands the Depot’s capacity and safety by funding facility upgrades to essential building systems (M/E/HVAC) and life-safety elements.

Terms and concepts described (key terms mentioned or implied)

• St. Louis County Heritage and Arts Center
• Depot (the building in Duluth)
• asset preservation
• expansion
• predesign
• design
• construction
• renovation
• mechanical systems
• electrical systems
• heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC)
• life-safety elements
• grant
• nonstate sources
• bond proceeds fund
• bonds
• bond sale
• Minnesota Statutes 16A.631 to 16A.675
• Minnesota Constitution Article XI

Relevant Terms - Asset preservation - Expansion - Depot - Duluth - Grant - Nonstate funding - Bond proceeds fund - Bond issuance / bonds - M/E/HVAC systems - Life-safety elements - Predesign, design, construction, renovation - Minnesota Statutes 16A.631-16A.675 - Minnesota Constitution Article XI