Governor Walz, Lieutenant Governor Flanagan Announce Plan to Expand Economic Opportunity for Minnesotans

Statement

Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan today announced a series of proposals to expand economic opportunity in Minnesota as part of the Walz-Flanagan Budget to Move Minnesota Forward. The series of supplemental budget proposals includes delivering $700 million in direct payments to Minnesotans through Walz Checks. Today's announcement follows the roll out of their 2022 Local Jobs and Projects Plan earlier this week.

"To continue growing Minnesota's economy, we must invest in the people who made it strong in the first place," said Governor Walz. "By investing in workforce development, cutting taxes for the middle class and working families, lowering costs, and expanding access to resources like technical education and high-speed broadband, we will improve economic prosperity across the state and grow the workforce we need to compete."

"This plan builds our economy by putting people--our strongest asset--at the center of the blueprint. Right now, we have a remarkable opportunity to give money back to middle class Minnesotans, working families, and small businesses," continued Governor Walz. "In this budget, if you are a frontline worker with children, earning up to $70,000 per year, you will get about $2,000 back in your pocket."

"During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen economic inequities exposed and exacerbated -- for frontline workers, for young people, for immigrants and BIPOC communities, and for small, family-owned businesses. Our plan to expand economic opportunity will help ensure we are meeting the needs of all Minnesotans in a 21st century economy," said Lieutenant Governor Flanagan. "When we pursue strategic and equitable investments in our economic future, we aren't just recovering from the pandemic -- we're coming back stronger than ever."

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