An Act To Provide Funding for the Maine Coworking Development Fund

Sec. 1. Expansion of collaborative workspaces. The Department of Economic and Community Development shall provide funds from the Maine Coworking Development Fund, as established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 13056-G, to entities that maintain collaborative workspace businesses to allow those entities to expand those collaborative workspace businesses. In providing funds pursuant to this section, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the department shall give preference to applicants with collaborative workspace businesses located in municipalities and counties in which the unemployment rate exceeds the State's unemployment rate.

Sec. 2. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.

ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, DEPARTMENT OF

Maine Coworking Development Fund Z195

Initiative: Provides one-time funds for the expansion of existing collaborative workspace businesses, with preference given to applicants with projects in towns and counties in which the unemployment rate exceeds the State's unemployment rate.

GENERAL FUND	2019-20	2020-21
All Other	$300,000	$0
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$300,000	$0

summary

This bill provides one-time funds for the expansion of existing collaborative workspace businesses and gives preference to applicants with projects in towns and counties in which the unemployment rate exceeds the State's unemployment rate.