ST. PAUL — Rural Minnesota Democrats, including Sen. Dan Sparks, DFL-Austin, want a big piece of the state’s projected $1 billion budget surplus to solve workforce issues in their communities.

The lawmakers want about $232 million over the next two years to boost business and job creation in greater Minnesota. The money would expand broadband, hire more career counselors and build more housing for outstate workers.

Sparks is heading up legislation that incentives greater investment in workforce housing. The legislature has heard many stories from businesses who say a shortage of housing is a real obstacle to hiring and stunts their ability to expand. This legislation, which would invest $50 million, is a combination of several successful programs from neighboring states who have experienced similar problems.

“This bill really tries to attack the problem on several fronts,” Sparks said in a press release. “For starters, by creating an Office of Workforce Housing we will have a system dedicated to this specific type of housing problem. We believe the tax credits will go a long way to attract investors, both small and large, while the grants will get a lot of housing projects off the ground.”

Sen. Tom Saxhaug, DFL-Grand Rapids, chairs the Senate Rural Task Force and is chief author of legislation aimed at closing the employment gap in Greater Minnesota. The bill appropriates about $27 million for new career counselors at workforce development centers across rural Minnesota, and for career counseling for young Minnesotans.

The funding will also help the metro area, according to Sen. Vicki Jensen. The Owatonna Democrat says encouraging young rural workers to stay in their hometowns will keep them from congesting the Twin Cities job market.

House Republicans picked up several seats in the last election by accusing Democrats of ignoring rural Minnesota. The Democratic senators say their bills have bipartisan support.

Sen. David Tomassoni’s, DFL-Chisholm, is pushing a $15 million bill to implement a new and more flexible jobs training program designed for Greater Minnesota.

Sen. Matt Schmit, DFL-Red Wing, is leading an ongoing push to bring high speed broadband access to Greater Minnesota. Bipartisan legislation would renew Minnesota’s year-old “Border-to-Border Broadband” competitive matching grant fund with $100 million for the next two years.

The Austin Daily Herald contributed to this report.