ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota legislators have come up with a way to fund local development projects that relieves them of the hassle that comes from picking winners and losers.

The construction borrowing bill that looks headed to the governor creates a $47.5 million grant fund that applicants can try to tap.

The state’s economic development agency will make the grants.

In the past, the process has pitted lawmakers against one another as they argued for projects in their district. Rep. Alice Hausman, a Democrat on the House Capital Investment Committee, says it’s a convenient way around the controversial parts of the bill.

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