Funding provided to create a centralized digital platform to provide youth with information about workforce opportunities, report required, and money appropriated.
HF3004 appropriates $650,000 in fiscal year 2026 and another $650,000 in fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the commissioner of employment and economic development for a grant to FMV Nonprofit Solutions, working with Catalyst for Systems Change, to develop, implement, and operate a centralized digital platform for youth workforce information. The platform is intended to help young people find internships, mentoring, and job opportunities across Minnesota, with a target audience of ages 15 to 23.
The bill also directs that, when possible, youth should be employed in both building the platform and promoting it through social media and digital outreach. The appropriation is one-time and remains available until June 30, 2027. In addition, the bill requires a report by December 1, 2027, to legislative committee leaders with jurisdiction over employment and economic development, covering website engagement, user demographics, the number of opportunities listed, user feedback, and recommendations for improvement based on youth input.
HF3004 would create a new state-funded workforce information platform without directly amending existing labor or education statutes. Its main legal effect is to appropriate general fund dollars to a named nonprofit grantee through the Department of Employment and Economic Development and to impose reporting requirements tied to the grant. The bill would affect youth job seekers, internship providers, mentoring organizations, and the nonprofit entities responsible for building and operating the platform.
Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears generally supportive of youth workforce development and digital access to opportunities. There is no recorded committee testimony or vote history in the provided materials, so no formal opposition or amendment debate is documented. The bill’s structure suggests a practical, service-oriented approach rather than a controversial policy change.
No specific points of contention are documented in the available committee transcripts or votes. Potential areas of concern, based on the bill itself, could include the use of a one-time general fund appropriation, the selection of a specific nonprofit grantee, and whether the platform will effectively reach youth ages 15 to 23. The reporting requirement appears designed to address accountability and effectiveness concerns by requiring data on usage, demographics, and user feedback.