$216 million package to help survive Gov. Walz's latest shutdown
ST. PAUL — The Minnesota House on Monday approved a $216 million business relief package designed to help small businesses and workers impacted by Gov. Tim Walz’s latest restrictions on businesses.
The move comes as business owners wait for the governor to announce whether he will extend current restrictions past their scheduled expiration this Friday. Rep. Paul Anderson, R-Starbuck, said the relief package will help, but the best remedy would be allowing Minnesota businesses to safely re-open their doors.
“This bill buys us some time and, hopefully, keeps our businesses afloat until the vaccine becomes more readily available,” Anderson said. “I also hope the governor relaxes his executive orders and allows business to start getting back to normal. This bill isn't perfect but will get needed funds out to various types of businesses before the new year if all goes well. And, for those bars and restaurants that don't qualify for the grants from the Dept. of Revenue right away, they can still qualify for grants through their respective counties.”
The business relief package includes direct grants to businesses, license and other fee relief, and a 13-week extension of unemployment insurance for workers.
The grants are broken into three categories aimed at prioritizing speed. The first category will be $88 million in grants administered automatically by the Department of Revenue to restaurants, bars, gyms, bowling alleys, and other businesses who have seen losses of more than 30 percent compared with last year.
The second category is approximately $14 million administered by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development for movie theaters and large convention centers, and the third pot is $112 million in grants that will be administered at the county level.
The county-based grants are intended to help additional businesses impacted by the recent closures that do not qualify for the first two grant categories, however businesses which receive grants from the DOR are not precluded from receiving county-based grants.
Anderson said he is waiting for confirmation of exact dollar amounts for grants plus administrative fees appropriated to counties in the bill. He indicated preliminary estimates for counties in District 12B provided around $255,000 for Pope, $750,000 for Douglas and just north of $3 million for Stearns.
The bill passed the House by a 117-13 vote. With Senate approval secured 62-4 earlier Monday, it now is in the hands of the governor for enactment.
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