Saturday February 16, 2019
Nora G. Hertel
The Capitol dome in St. Paul
ST. PAUL — Somali entrepreneurs and young workers in St. Cloud could draw on a new pot of development dollars if state lawmakers OK a new bill proposed by St. Cloud Sen. Jerry Relph.
The measure was introduced on Monday and has stirred up some opposition. But Relph, a Republican, said Wednesday he saw an opportunity to help young entrepreneurs.
"It's basically an economic development thing," Relph said.
The bill draws on a larger grant program for non-profits, Relph said. It's open to any group, and he was asked to direct a slice of the funding to east African communities.
The non-profit Youthprise would administer the grants. It works to reduce disparities among Minnesota youth when it comes to economic opportunities and other areas, according to its overview and mission.
"We really like to connect young people to jobs that are in demand," said Youthprise Vice President Marcus Pope. That may be through work experience, apprenticeships, soft skills training and more.
The first version of Relph's proposal directs $2 million in 2020 and $2 million in 2021 to Youthprise to award competitive grants that "provide economic development services designed to enhance long-term economic self-sufficiency in communities with concentrated east African populations," according to the bill text.
At least half the money has to go outside of the major metro area, and St. Cloud is named in the bill as one community that could benefit. It requires the commissioner of employment and economic development to report to lawmakers on the uses and outcomes of the funding.
The bill language may evolve, and Youthprise will follow Relph's lead on that, Pope said. It may expand to benefit all people of color, rather than people of east African decent specifically.
Minnesota's Somali community is among the largest and youngest cultural groups in the state, according to a Youthprise fact sheet. And 57 percent of Somali kids under 18 live in poverty.
"It's a growing population that is vibrant and can really contribute to the growth and prosperity of everyone," Pope said.
The proposed grant program would encourage community groups to partner together and provide services that help get young people into jobs, Pope said.
"There's a need for that in Central Minnesota and many parts of Minnesota," said Haji Yussuf, a community organizer in St. Cloud. Local groups could use the help and resources to empower more kids.
Other groups in the state, such as veterans and people with disabilities, receive funding from the state, and they should, Yussuf said. And youths of color are also entitled to the same types of state aid, he said.