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Attachment 2 <br />resources comparable to that of the HRA levy. This additional funding for affordable housing allows for a slight <br />adjustment of funding priorities of the HRA levy without deviating from the County’s primary focus on <br />expanding and improving affordable housing infrastructure. <br /> <br />Who decides on funding priorities on HRA Levy? <br />A: Ramsey County HRA Board is responsible for establishing funding priorities and make final decisions <br />regarding spending of HRA levy. While the County HRA outlines its priorities, it relies on city partners as well as <br />community organizations and developers to ready important projects. Prior to the county’s HRA funding in a <br />project, projects are required obtain a municipal resolution in support in accordance with state statute. <br /> <br />EDA and business programming <br />What type of business activities does the County intend to do with this legislative change? <br />A: The County is responding to community requests for enhanced business programming. The small business <br />support (EDA eligible activities) realized by this legislative flexibility would be a strong reelection of those local <br />requests and would initially start at $1.5 - $2 million of our yearly HRA levy to ensure the bulk of resources are <br />remain available and prioritized for housing programs and projects. Areas of need identified to strengthen the <br />small business ecosystem are informed by the County’s involvement and engagement with cities, business <br />support organizations and small businesses that include: <br /> Capacity building of small business support organizations to meet current and future needs <br /> More technical assistance/advisory services to better serve targeted geographies, communities and/or <br />industries <br />lexible capital to enable greater business retention, expansion and attraction <br /> Additional f <br /> <br />Did the County attempt to form an EDA previously? <br />A: In 2016, the County did submit legislation that would have created a Ramsey County EDA. The legislation was <br />pulled by the County following community concerns around the creation of a new taxing authority. The <br />county’s current legislation would not create a new taxing authority as it merely allows for additional eligible <br />uses (i.e. business programming) of the County’s existing Housing and Redevelopment Authority. <br /> <br />Does Ramsey County provide business programming? If so, what programs? How much does it spend? And <br />how does it pay for business programs? <br />A: Ramsey County provides limited business programing. The County funds the programming through the <br />County’s general property tax levy. Current business programming totals $345,000. <br /> Entrepreneur support: Open to Business – Provides no cost direct technical assistance and other forms <br />of support to small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. This program was expanded <br />countywide in 2019 in response to direct city requests for this program. <br /> Small Business Growth: CEO Next - Cohort-based leadership program for second stage growth-minded <br />business owners. <br />mseyCountyMeansBusiness.com An online portal providing <br /> Marketing & attraction programming: Ra <br />workforce and economic development resources throughout the county to current and prospective <br />businesses and investors. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Qbhf!54!pg!65 <br /> <br />