The bill S.F. No. 2203 establishes the Empowering Small Minnesota Communities Program, administered by the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota. The program aims to assist small communities (populations under 15,000) and federally recognized Tribal governments in infrastructure project analysis and development.

Key provisions include:
- Prioritization of communities with insufficient capacity to develop projects or apply for state/federal grants.
- Support and assistance for planning, scoping, analysis, predesign, and design of infrastructure projects.
- Collaboration with University-affiliated centers like the Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships, Center for Transportation Studies, and others.
- Consideration of sustainability, resiliency, and climate adaptation in project development.
- A program website providing project summaries, financial details, and application guidance.

The bill appropriates $2.5 million per year for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 from the state’s general fund to support the program.