Section 298.294 Investment of Fund

298.294 INVESTMENT OF FUND.

(a) The trust fund established by section 298.292 shall be invested pursuant to law by the State Board of Investment and the net interest, dividends, and other earnings arising from the investments shall be transferred, except as provided in paragraph (b), on the first day of each month to the trust and shall be included and become part of the trust fund. The amounts transferred, including the interest, dividends, and other earnings earned prior to July 13, 1982, together with the additional amount of $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1983, which is appropriated April 21, 1983, are appropriated from the trust fund to the commissioner of Iron Range resources and rehabilitation for deposit in a separate account for expenditure for the purposes set forth in section 298.292. Amounts appropriated pursuant to this section shall not cancel but shall remain available unless expended.

(b) For fiscal years 2010 and 2011 only, $1,500,000 of the net interest, dividends, and other earnings under paragraph (a) shall be transferred to a special account. Funds in the special account are available for loans or grants to businesses, with priority given to businesses with 25 or fewer employees. Funds may be used for wage subsidies for up to 52 weeks of up to $5 per hour or other activities, including, but not limited to, short-term operating expenses and purchase of equipment and materials by businesses under financial duress, that will create additional jobs in the taconite assistance area under section 273.1341. Expenditures from the special account must be approved by at least seven Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board members.

(c) To qualify for a grant or loan, a business must be currently operating and have been operating for one year immediately prior to its application for a loan or grant, and its corporate headquarters must be located in the taconite assistance area.

History:

1977 c 423 art 10 s 28; 3Sp1981 c 2 art 7 s 6; 2Sp1982 c 2 s 7; 1983 c 46 s 3; 2009 c 78 art 7 s 20; 2010 c 215 art 9 s 1; 2010 c 216 s 20