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Committee considers community grants program to widen access to ENRTF funding
Summary
Senate File 2547 would create a community grants program to distribute Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund dollars to smaller nonprofits, municipalities, tribes and community-led projects. DNR staff and partners described program design work and outreach; the bill was laid over for possible inclusion.
Senate File 2547 would establish a community grants program to distribute Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) dollars to smaller local organizations, tribes and municipalities that historically face barriers to the larger LCCMR grant process. The bill drew supportive testimony from the DNR and coalition groups.
Why it matters: Supporters said the LCCMR process favors large, well-resourced organizations and that a community grants program would extend trust-fund benefits to rural, tribal and community-based projects across Minnesota.
What witnesses said - Bob Meyer, assistant commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, described DNR grant experience and work to design an advisory council, selection process and risk-mitigation practices. He said DNR manages roughly $65 million annually in grant programs and is planning outreach, advisory-council selection and administrative procedures in anticipation of an appropriation.
- Mike Harley, executive director of Environmental Initiative, and James Trice, founder and CEO of Public Policy Projects and co-creator of the Environmental Justice Coordinating Council, told the committee the program was created in response to community demand and would prioritize projects led by historically excluded communities. "This coalition...worked together for over four years identifying barriers and identifying ideas that might help us overcome those barriers," Harley said.
Committee action - Sponsors asked the committee to lay SF 2547 over; the committee laid the bill over for possible inclusion in the omnibus.
Ending: Senators described bipartisan and voter support for expanded trust-fund access and left the measure laid over pending appropriation decisions.
