ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Metropolitan Council approved a contract on July 9 to replace its aging grants‑management system with a cloud platform the council said will improve applicant access and internal reporting.

Council member Johnson presented Business Item 25P123, describing a three‑year contract with two optional one‑year extensions to acquire Flux Labs’ grants management platform via Insight Public Sector as authorized reseller; the total authorized amount is not to exceed $1,390,000. Staff said the council currently manages about 550 grant agreements totaling nearly $600 million and that the new system will reduce manual processes, allow better data integration with PeopleSoft and improve analytics for program evaluation.

Why it matters: Council staff said the upgrade will further the council’s strategic plan (Imagine 2050) by providing better information on grant performance and improving the application experience for external partners. Councilors praised the system’s potential to consolidate data and support cross‑departmental reporting.

What was said: Council member Johnson described the system as supporting internal and external users and thanked staff for the vetting and demonstrations. Councilor Carter and others noted the system’s capacity to enhance grant assessment and partnerships.

Implementation and next steps: Staff indicated the council would negotiate and execute contract 25P123, onboard the vendor and begin integrations with existing systems. Management committee materials included a report on vendor selection and demonstration testing by affected teams. The council called for a voice vote and approved the authorization.

Funding and scope: The request covers an initial three‑year term and up to two additional one‑year extensions, not to exceed $1,390,000. No additional funding sources were specified in the public remarks beyond normal management committee budget authority.