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"February 5, 2024"

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electric vehicle rebates
*REBATES FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES*?

Are you a Minnesota resident? Did you purchase or lease an electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid on or after May 25, 2023? You may be eligible for an Electric Vehicle (EV) rebate from the State of Minnesota.?

The Minnesota Department of Commerce opens applications for the EV Rebate Program at *10 a.m. Wednesday, February 7, 2024.* Learn more about how to apply and get more details on EV rebates: mn.gov/evrebates [ [link removed] ].??



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*SEARCH FOR UNCLAIMED PROPERTY *?

Nearly 33 million people in the United States ? 1 in every 7 ? has unclaimed property, according to the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators.?

Take a few minutes to search online to see if you or a member of your family have money or property that you need to claim.

*What is unclaimed property? *The Minnesota Department of Commerce Unclaimed Property has a new video, posted to Commerce?s YouTube channel, to explain how Minnesotans could have money and property that goes unclaimed. The video also explains how to find out if you have property to claim. ?

thumbnail of unclaimed property video [ [link removed] ]

Search Commerce?s Unclaimed Property [ [link removed] ] now.?

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*COMMERCE IN THE NEWS: SOLAR FOR SCHOOLS?*?

Does your school have solar power? K-12 schools are invited to apply for Solar for Schools grants, joining over 100 Minnesota schools funded for solar power.?

Commissioner Arnold and lieutenant governor Flanagan at a solar for schools event

The Minnesota Department of Commerce Solar for Schools Program (mn.gov/solar4schools [ [link removed] ]) is now open for a new round of applications for grant funding from schools across Minnesota to install solar power on school rooftops and grounds. The grants help schools add renewable energy as a source of power and offer students hands-on lessons about renewable energy technology.?

?Solar for Schools is good for our planet, it reduces our carbon footprint, and it cuts costs for our schools, offers hands-on learning for our students, and opens the door for students to explore careers in clean energy,? said Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan during a recent visit to Lake Marion Elementary in the Lakeville Public School District, which currently has six schools with solar and five more schools on track to add solar.??

Read the press release [ [link removed] ]. View Lt. Gov. Flanagan and Commerce Commissioner Arnold?s visit to Lake Marion Elementary School in Lakeville, on Commerce?s YouTube channel [ [link removed] ].??







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*MONEY & BANKING*?

*Financial scam problems growing?*?

A 70-year-old woman from Rush City, MN, was sentenced in December to almost two years in prison and ordered to repay $1.76 million to victims for financial fraud that began with her being the victim of a romance scam. Star Tribune story: Victim turned victimizer: Prison for Minnesota woman whose pandemic aid and romance schemes snared $1.8M. [ [link removed] ]?

More and more people of all ages are being tricked into financial and investment scams, based on U.S. Department of Justice data.?

The scams may be via social media, online dating apps, LinkedIn, or even random text messages. An innocent chat turns into investment advice. The victim starts handing over more and more money until the scammer disappears. Victims rarely recover stolen funds because the scammers are overseas and move the money into untraceable crypto funds. Commerce?s Office of Securities is part of the North American Securities Administrators Association?s efforts to prevent these scams.? NASAA?s annual investor education training conference is being hosted in Minnesota February 21-22nd. During this conference investor education professionals will gain knowledge and expertise to better educate the public. ?






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Child and Working Family Tax Credit
*TAX REFUNDS: Child and Working Family Tax Credits??*?

Minnesota residents could receive a Child Tax Credit of $1,750 for each child under 18 and Working Family Tax Credits of up to $2,850. If your income is below $35,000 (joint filers) or up to $29,000 (other filers), be sure to file for 2023 taxes, even if you do not owe any tax. You may also qualify for free tax return preparation. Go to www.revenue.state.mn.us [ [link removed] ]. In the ?Search? box, type in ?child tax credit,? ?working family tax credit? or ?free tax prep? to find more info.??



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*WE ARE HIRING*

*Join our team. We are hiring.*

Learn more:? mn.gov/Commerce/Careers [ [link removed] ].??

*Spread the word:* Do you have family, friends, neighbors or co-workers who would benefit from knowing more about Commerce?s work to assist and protect consumers?? Send along this newsletter or send a link to mn.gov/commerce. [ [link removed] ]??

*About this newsletter *You are receiving this newsletter because you signed up to receive consumer alerts from the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Our agency protects consumer interests and regulates or oversees more than 40 businesses and industries in Minnesota, including energy, finance, insurance, and real estate.?






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Get updates and news from the Minnesota Department of Commerce at?mn.gov/commerce [ [link removed] ]?or @MNCommerce on social media.

Twitter [ [link removed] ]?|??Facebook [ [link removed] ]??|??YouTube [ [link removed] ]??|??LinkedIn [ [link removed] ]??








*Minnesota Department of Commerce*
85 7th Place East, Suite 280
St. Paul, MN 55101

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