Neighborhood STAR Awardees
Congratulations on receiving a Neighborhood STAR grant! We are proud to partner with you and support your investments in Saint Paul.
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Documents
- List of 2023 Neighborhood STAR awardees
- W9 Form (if you are a new Neighborhood STAR grantee OR if you are a previous awardee but have a new address, you will need to complete this form)
Sample Documents
These documents are provided as a resource to you and are samples only. Documentation for your particular project may differ. Your assigned Project Manager will help you customize these documents as you get under contract with the City of Saint Paul.
- Sample Neighborhood STAR Grant Agreement
- Sample Neighborhood STAR Statement of Work
- Sample Insurance Certificate
- Sample Conflict of Interest Form
- Sample Reimbursement Form
- Sample Closing Fee Invoice
Orientation
The grantee orientation was held on Tuesday, December 19, 2023. Watch the recording or view the slides.
Crediting Neighborhood STAR
If you would like to credit Neighborhood STAR in any of your marketing, advertising, or other materials, please do so!
The Department of Planning and Economic Development has created a fillable PDF that can be used as a template when creating your sign.
You may also download STAR and City of Saint Paul logos to use in your communication materials:
Do you have a story to share?
We’d love to hear it! If you’re interested in sharing photos of your project or stories about how the Neighborhood STAR program has impacted you, please let your Project Manager or the Program Coordinator know. We love to highlight the success of grantees when we can.
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Documents
- List of 2022 Neighborhood STAR awardees
- List of 2022 Neighborhood STAR awardees and assigned City project managers
- W9 form (if you are new to receiving City funding, you will need to complete and sign the W9 and submit to your project manager)
- Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity (AA/EEO) Contract Specifications
- Prevailing Wage Requirements
- Vendor Outreach Program Handout
- Sample Insurance Certificate
Contract Compliance
The following compliance issues may apply to your project and can be reviewed on the City of Saint Paul's contract compliance website:
- Affirmative Action: Entities receiving $50,000 or more of city funds within a 12-month period
- Business Subsidy: May apply to recipients of grants of $25,000 or more and loans of $75,000 and over
- Federal Davis Bacon Requirements: Projects of $2,000 or more receiving at least one dollar of federal funds
- Little Davis Bacon Requirements: Total project costs of $25,000 or more
- Living Wage: Entities receiving $100,000 or more of city funds
- Project Labor Agreement: Entities receiving $250,000 or more of city funds
- Section 3: Economic opportunities to low income persons or business concerns residing close to a project’s location
- PED/HRA Sustainability Initiative: May apply to projects of any size.
- Saint Paul Sustainable Building Ordinance: Applies to projects receiving more than $200,000 in public investment.
- Two Bid Policy: Projects receiving $20,000 or more of city funds
- Vendor Outreach Program: Total project costs of $50,000 or more
Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity
The City of Saint Paul Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity (AA/EEO) Ordinance requires all legal entities receiving $50,000 or more in city funds to submit a certified affirmative action program (APP).
An affirmative action program is your company's equal employment opportunity policy and practice. The City provides an affirmative action program template that you may use if you do not have an AAP. You will need to submit two items before the contract is signed or before you request reimbursement, whichever comes first:
- Your AAP, and
- $75 fee to certify your AAP for a two-year period.
In addition to the submission of your company’s AAP for certification, the same will apply to the general contractor and all subcontractors on your construction project. You must inform your general contractor of this requirement and the workforce participation goals.
The City requires construction projects of $50,000 or more to achieve 32% minority labor total hours and 20% female labor total hours. Before the construction of your project, AA/EEO requirements will be further described at a pre-construction meeting.
Download the Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity (AA/EEO) Contract Specifications
Prevailing Wage
The City of Saint Paul Prevailing Wage Ordinance applies to projects that involve construction where the total development cost of the project is greater than $25,000 and that include any amount of City (e.g., STAR) money.
Prevailing wage is a minimum wage requirement for construction workers that your contractors will have to pay their workers (including owner/operators) while working on a City-funded project. These rates are contained in the wage decision that will be provided if you are awarded STAR money. You can view sample Department of Labor and Industry wage decisions, but please note that the actual wage decision that will apply to your project will be provided by the City.
As a STAR awardee, you will want to tell potential contractors that prevailing wage will apply to the project. You will also want to attach the prevailing wage packet you receive from the City into your contract(s) with your contractors. Once your project begins your contractors will be expected to submit payrolls into LCP Tracker - an online payroll reporting the City uses to ensure compliance with the prevailing wage law.
Prevailing wage will affect your entire project. For example, If you are using STAR money to renovate a patio, and you’re also renovating a bathroom and roof at the same time, prevailing wage will apply to those facets of your project as well.
Download the Prevailing Wage Requirements
Vendor Outreach Program
The Vendor Outreach Program (VOP) applies to projects with a total project cost over $50,000. Businesses must be CERT certified to count toward VOP goals. Reporting requirements will be discussed further at a pre-bid or pre-construction meeting.
Download the Vendor Outreach Program (VOP) Basics handout
Minnesota Business Subsidy Law
Minnesota Statute Sections 116J.993-.995 and Saint Paul City Council Resolution #99-742 require that a business receiving state or local government assistance must have a defined public purpose and recipients must set goals for job creation, wages, and benefits to be achieved within two years of receiving assistance.
Wage and Job Goals and Reporting
This applies to recipients* receiving a business subsidy of $150,000 or more of grant funds, and loans and loan guarantees over $150,000; unless the project or recipient falls within an exemption.
A notice and a public hearing on the subsidy is required.
Specific wage and job goals to be attained within 2 years and a 5-year commitment to continue operations at its business location in Saint Paul.
Annual reporting is required by March 1 of each year for the prior calendar year.
*All for-profit entities and only nonprofit entities with at least 100 FTE and with a ratio of highest to lowest paid employee that exceeds ten to one qualify as a business subsidy recipient.
Minnesota Business Subsidy Common Project Exemptions*
- Redevelopment property polluted by contaminants as defined in section 116J.552, Subd 3
- Assistance provided for the sole purpose of renovating old or decaying building stock or bringing it up to code, and assistance provided for designated historic preservation districts, provided that the assistance is equal to or less than 50 percent of the total cost
- Assistance for housing
- Assistance for pollution control or abatement including assistance for a tax increment financing hazardous substance subdistrict as defined under section 469.174, subdivision 23
- Redevelopment when the recipient's investment in the purchase of the site and in site preparation is 70 percent or more of the assessor's current year's estimated market value
**This is not a complete list, consult MN Statutes 116J.993, Subd. 3 for the complete list
Minnesota Business Subsidy Reporting Only
Annual reporting may be required of a business subsidy, if the assistance is in the form of a grant of $25,000 or more; or a loan of $75,000 or more, or a combination, when total assistance is less than $150,000, including all forms of City and HRA funding for a project.
Saint Paul Living Wage Ordinance
The Saint Paul Living Wage Ordinance can be found in Chapter 98 of Saint Paul Administrative Code.
This ordinance applies to recipients receiving $100,000 or more in a city business subsidy (grants and most loans) unless the project or recipient falls within an exemption*.
Any city business subsidy recipient and tenant must agree to pay an hourly rate that is at least the living wage to each employee who is employed in the location for which the city business subsidy was provided and a tenant must pay at least a living wage to each tenant subcontractor for the longer of (a) the duration of the city business subsidy agreement or (b) three years.
*One exemption that could apply pertains to businesses that qualify as a “Small Business” under MN Statutes 645.445, which includes, in part, businesses that are not an affiliate and with 20 or fewer full-time employees or with annual gross revenues less than $1 million.
A Living Wage is:
- 130% of the federal poverty level for a family of four ($17.34 per hour for 2022), or
- 110% of the federal poverty level for a family of four if health benefits are provided ($14.68 per hour for 2022);
- Wage rates change annually
City Insurance Requirements
Insurance must be obtained prior to getting under contract with the City of Saint Paul. Please refer to this Insurance Certificate Sample when obtaining insurance.
The required insurance coverage minimums are as follows:
- General or Business Liability Insurance
- $1,500,000 per occurrence
- $2,000,000 aggregate per project
- $2,000,000 products/completed operations total limit
- $1,500,000 personal injury and advertising
- Automobile Insurance
- Commercial Vehicles: When commercial vehicles will be used in connection with the Project, these minimum coverage amounts are required:
- Bodily Injury: $750,000 per person; $1,000,000 per accident
- Property Damage: Not less than $50,000 per accident
- Personal Vehicles: When personal vehicles are used in connection with the Project, the Grantor is not required to be named as Additional Insured, but proof of insurance is required prior to commencement of activities. Grantee must provide the Grantor with Endorsements from insurance company.
- Bodily Injury: $30,000 per person; $60,000 per accident
- Property Damage: $20,000 per accident
- Rental Vehicles: When rental vehicles are used in connection with the Project, the Grantee shall either purchase insurance from the rental agency or provide the Grantor with proof of insurance as stated above.
- Commercial Vehicles: When commercial vehicles will be used in connection with the Project, these minimum coverage amounts are required:
- Worker’s Compensation and Employer’s Liability
- Worker’s Compensation coverage is required per Minnesota Statutes. Employer’s Liability shall have a minimum of $500,000 per accident / $500,000 per employee / $500,000 per disease policy limit. Grantees with 10 or fewer employees who do not have Worker's Compensation coverage are required to provide the Grantor with a completed “Certificate of Compliance” (State of Minnesota form MN LIC 04) verifying their number of employees and the reason for their exemption.
- Worker’s Compensation coverage is required per Minnesota Statutes. Employer’s Liability shall have a minimum of $500,000 per accident / $500,000 per employee / $500,000 per disease policy limit. Grantees with 10 or fewer employees who do not have Worker's Compensation coverage are required to provide the Grantor with a completed “Certificate of Compliance” (State of Minnesota form MN LIC 04) verifying their number of employees and the reason for their exemption.
- Professional Services Coverage
- Professional Liability Insurance is required when Developer provides a service for which professional liability insurance is available for purchase. Professional Liability shall have minimum liability limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence / $1,000,000 aggregate.
- Professional Liability Insurance is required when Developer provides a service for which professional liability insurance is available for purchase. Professional Liability shall have minimum liability limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence / $1,000,000 aggregate.
- Pollution Liability/Hazardous Waster, Builder's Risk and Errors and Omissions
- Pollution Liability/Hazardous Waste, Builder’s Risk and Errors and Omissions is required in the following minimum amounts:
- Pollution Liability/Hazardous Waste: $1,000,000 per occurrence / $1,000,000 aggregate.
- Errors and omissions coverage must be included if the Grantee will be providing services for the Grantor as a sublimit of the General Liability Policy. Agent must state on the certificate if Grantee carries errors and omissions coverage.
- Builder’s Risk Insurance is required for the cost of the Project.
- Pollution Liability/Hazardous Waste, Builder’s Risk and Errors and Omissions is required in the following minimum amounts:
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Documents
- List of 2021 Neighborhood STAR awardees
- List of 2021 Neighborhood STAR awardees and assigned City project managers
Compliance
The following compliance issues may apply to your project and can be reviewed on the Contact Compliance webpage:
- Affirmative Action: Entities receiving $50,000 or more of city funds within a 12-month period
- Business Subsidy: May apply to recipients of grants of $25,000 or more and loans of $75,000 and over
- Federal Davis Bacon Requirements: Projects of $2,000 or more receiving at least one dollar of federal funds
- Little Davis Bacon Requirements: Total project costs of $25,000 or more
- Living Wage: Entities receiving $100,000 or more of city funds
- Project Labor Agreement: Entities receiving $250,000 or more of city funds
- Section 3: Economic opportunities to low income persons or business concerns residing close to a project’s location
- PED/HRA Sustainability Initiative: May apply to projects of any size.
- Saint Paul Sustainable Building Policy: Applies to projects receiving more than $200,000 in public investment.
- Two Bid Policy: Projects receiving $20,000 or more of city funds
- Vendor Outreach Program: Total project costs of $50,000 or more
Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity
The City of Saint Paul Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity (AA/EEO) Ordinance requires all legal entities receiving $50,000 or more in city funds to submit a certified affirmative action program (AAP). An affirmative action program is your company's equal employment opportunity policy and practice. The City provides an affirmative action program template that you may use if you do not have an AAP.
You will need to submit two items before the contract is signed or before you request reimbursement, whichever comes first:
- Your affirmative action plan, and
- $75 fee to certify your affirmative action plan for a two-year period.
In addition to the submission of your company’s AAP for certification, the same will apply to the general contractor and all subcontractors on your construction project. You must inform your general contractor of this requirement and the workforce participation goals.
The City requires construction projects of $50,000 or more to achieve 32% minority labor total hours and 20% female labor total hours. Before the construction of your project, AA/EEO requirements will be further described at a pre-construction meeting.
Prevailing Wage
The City of Saint Paul Prevailing Wage Ordinance applies to projects that involve construction where the total development cost of the project is greater than $25,000 and that include any amount of City (e.g., STAR) money.
Prevailing wage is a minimum wage requirement for construction workers that your contractors will have to pay their workers (including owner/operators) while working on a City-funded project. These rates are contained in the wage decision that will be provided if you are awarded STAR money. You can view sample Department of Labor and Industry wage decisions, but please note that the actual wage decision that will apply to your project will be provided by the City of Saint Paul.
As a STAR awardee, you will want to tell potential contractors that prevailing wage will apply to the project. You will also want to attach the prevailing wage packet you receive from the City into your contract(s) with your contractors. Once your project begins your contractors will be expected to submit payrolls into LCP Tracker - an online payroll reporting the City uses to ensure compliance with the prevailing wage law.
Prevailing wage will affect your entire project. For example, If you are using STAR money to renovate a patio, and you’re also renovating a bathroom and roof at the same time, prevailing wage will apply to those facets of your project as well.
Vendor Outreach Program
The Vendor Outreach Program (VOP) applies to projects with a total project cost over $50,000. Businesses must be CERT certified to count toward VOP goals. Reporting requirements will be discussed further at a pre-bid or pre-construction meeting.
Minnesota Business Subsidy Law
Minnesota Statute Sections 116J.993-.995 and Saint Paul City Council Resolution #99-742 require that a business receiving state or local government assistance must have a defined public purpose and recipients must set goals for job creation, wages, and benefits to be achieved within two years of receiving assistance.
Wage and Job Goals and Reporting
This applies to recipients* receiving a business subsidy of $150,000 or more of grant funds, and loans and loan guarantees over $150,000; unless the project or recipient falls within an exemption.
A notice and a public hearing on the subsidy is required.
Specific wage and job goals to be attained within 2 years and a 5-year commitment to continue operations at its business location in Saint Paul.
Annual reporting is required by March 1 of each year for the prior calendar year.
*All for-profit entities and only nonprofit entities with at least 100 FTE and with a ratio of highest to lowest paid employee that exceeds ten to one qualify as a business subsidy recipient.
Minnesota Business Subsidy Common Project Exemptions*
- Redevelopment property polluted by contaminants as defined in section 116J.552, Subd 3
- Assistance provided for the sole purpose of renovating old or decaying building stock or bringing it up to code, and assistance provided for designated historic preservation districts, provided that the assistance is equal to or less than 50 percent of the total cost
- Assistance for housing
- Assistance for pollution control or abatement including assistance for a tax increment financing hazardous substance subdistrict as defined under section 469.174, subdivision 23
- Redevelopment when the recipient's investment in the purchase of the site and in site preparation is 70 percent or more of the assessor's current year's estimated market value
**This is not a complete list, consult MN Statutes 116J.993, Subd. 3 for the complete list
Minnesota Business Subsidy Reporting Only
Annual reporting may be required of a business subsidy, if the assistance is in the form of a grant of $25,000 or more; or a loan of $75,000 or more, or a combination, when total assistance is less than $150,000, including all forms of City and HRA funding for a project.
Saint Paul Living Wage Ordinance
The Saint Paul Living Wage Ordinance can be found in Chapter 98 of Saint Paul Administrative Code.
This ordinance applies to recipients receiving $100,000 or more in a city business subsidy (grants and most loans) unless the project or recipient falls within an exemption*.
Any city business subsidy recipient and tenant must agree to pay an hourly rate that is at least the living wage to each employee who is employed in the location for which the city business subsidy was provided and a tenant must pay at least a living wage to each tenant subcontractor for the longer of (a) the duration of the city business subsidy agreement or (b) three years.
*One exemption that could apply pertains to businesses that qualify as a “Small Business” under MN Statutes 645.445, which includes, in part, businesses that are not an affiliate and with 20 or fewer full-time employees or with annual gross revenues less than $1 million.
A Living Wage is:
- 130% of the federal poverty level for a family of four ($17.34 per hour for 2022), or
- 110% of the federal poverty level for a family of four if health benefits are provided ($14.68 per hour for 2022);
- Wage rates change annually
