CHICAGO (Standard&Poor's) Sept. 16, 2009--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services has assigned its 'AA+' long-term rating to Minnesota Housing Finance Agency's nonprofit housing bonds, series 2009, which reflects the state's covenant to appropriate debt service sufficient to pay annual debt service. At the same time, Standard&Poor's affirmed its 'AAA' rating on the state's general obligation (GO)-backed debt. The outlook is stable. "The rating reflects our view of Minnesota's deep and diverse economy supported by several regional economic hubs and anchored by the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan statistical area, the center of the upper Midwest economy," said Standard&Poor's credit analyst Corey Friedman. Also supporting the rating are, in our view, Minnesota's continued strong management that remains committed
