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Dear Neighbors,
Governor Tim Walz today announced the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is now accepting applications for the $62.5 million Small Business Relief Grants Program for businesses impacted by COVID-19, which he signed into law last week.
Eligible businesses with 50 or fewer employees may apply for grants of up to $10,000. The money will be evenly distributed between businesses in Greater Minnesota and the Twin Cities metro, with at least $10 million to go to minority-owned businesses, $2.5 million to veteran-owned businesses, and $2.5 million to women-owned businesses.
An additional $2.5 million is allocated by law for grants of up to $250,000 each to operators of cultural malls to maintain existing tenants. This will be a separate application process, and DEED will provide more information this week at mn.gov/deed/relief.
The application period will be open for 10 days, the maximum time allowed by the law, and will close at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 2. A randomized, computer-generated lottery process will be used – in consultation with the Minnesota Lottery and observed by an independent third party – to select eligible businesses that will receive awards.
All awards will be administered by qualified local and regionally based nonprofit agencies, and the grant funds can be used to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility bills, and other similar business expenses.
The online application and additional information are now available at mn.gov/deed/relief.
Sincerely,
Heather Edelson
State Representative
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