SF3609

Purpose

• Provide a one-time appropriation to support meat cutting and butchery training in Minnesota. Specifically, it authorizes funding to help secondary career and technical education programs offer instruction in meat cutting and butchery.

Main Provisions

• Funding amount and source: A one-time appropriation of $225,000 in fiscal year 2027 from the workforce development fund.
• Program administrator: The funds go to the commissioner of employment and economic development (DEED) to award grants.
• Eligible recipients: Secondary career and technical education programs that offer meat cutting and butchery instruction.
• Authorized uses of the grant:
  • Equipment required for a meat cutting program
  • Facility renovations to accommodate meat cutting activities
  • Training faculty to teach the fundamentals of meat processing
• Grant size and allocation: Each grant may be up to $75,000, with up to 10% of the grant allowed for faculty training.
• Priority for funding: Preference to applicants coordinating with meat cutting and butchery programs at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities institutions or with local industry partners.
• Reporting requirements:
  • By January 15, 2028, DEED must report to the chairs and ranking minority members of key legislative committees a list of grants awarded, including amounts and counties, and note the number and amount of grant requests not fulfilled.
  • The report may include additional information about grant outcomes.
  • If additional grants are awarded under this section after the initial report, DEED must submit an additional report by November 1, 2028 covering all grants issued under this section.
• Interagency coordination: DEED may enter into an interagency agreement with the Department of Agriculture to transfer funds to administer the program.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Creates a new, one-time appropriation for meat cutting and butchery training rather than altering ongoing funding levels. The bill does not appear to permanently change statutes but establishes a new funding mechanism and reporting requirements related to this specific program.

Implementation Considerations

• Requires coordination between DEED, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, and local industry partners to maximize program impact.
• Establishes clear reporting timelines to track grant activity and outcomes.
• Allows for interagency fund transfers with the Department of Agriculture to administer the program, which may require coordinating across departments.

Relevant Terms - meat cutting - butchery - grants - workforce development fund - commissioner of employment and economic development (DEED) - secondary career and technical education programs - Minnesota State Colleges and Universities - local industry partners - equipment - facility renovation - faculty training - interagency agreement - Department of Agriculture - reporting requirements - fiscal year 2027 - one-time appropriation