HBA Advocacy Update

Minnesota Earned Sick and Safe time goes into effect Jan. 1, 2024

Employees that work a minimum of 80 hours a year for an employer in Minnesota and are not an independent contractor, are qualified to accrue sick and safe time. This time can be used for various reasons, including when an employee is sick, to care for a sick family member or to seek assistance if they or their family member has experienced domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking. Employees will accrue one hour for every 30 hours worked, up to a total of 48 hours per year. Those hours can be carried over from year to year and are capped at 80 total hours. 

If you are an employer, you are required to provide notice of earned time to employees and it must be shown on  earnings statements provided tat the end of each pay period.

Click here for more information.

Minnesota program for First-Generation Homebuyers

Minnesota Housing is planning to launch the First-Generation Homebuyer Loan Program in spring of 2024. This program offers downpayment assistance to first-generation homebuyers.

Here's what it entails:

• Maximum loan amount of $35,000
• Forgivable if the borrower lives in the home
  • Half forgiven at year 10
  • Remaining balance forgiven at year 20
• Could be combined with a standard Minnesota Housing downpayment assistance loan, for a total of up to $53,000
• Available to Start Up borrowers who certify they are first-generation homebuyers

Click here to learn more.

Fargo Growth Plan 2024

The Growth Plan continues to make progress! Feedback gathered from public input, including the open houses and online survey, helped form an initial Preferred Growth Scenario.

For more information on the growth plan process as a whole, visit the Fargo Growth Plan site.

If you have any questions or comments on the growth plan process or preferred growth scenario, please reach out to Kim Citrowske, planning coordinator for the city of Fargo.