DEED Small Business Relief Grants Program Accepting Applications on June 23
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has announced the Minnesota Small Business Relief Grants Program will begin accepting applications on Tuesday, June 23.
This program will provide $10,000 grants to small businesses that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees are eligible. Half of the funding will go to businesses in Greater Minnesota and half to businesses in the seven-county Twin Cities metro area, as required by law.
The application period will begin on Tuesday, June 23 and close at 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 2 to fulfill the 10-day period required by the law. A randomized, computer-generated lottery process will be used 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 for working capital to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility bills and other similar business expenses.
To be eligible, businesses must have a permanent physical location in Minnesota and be majority owned by a permanent resident of Minnesota. Businesses must be able to demonstrate hardship as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Additional eligibility requirements and application information can be found online at DEED's Small Business Relief Grants page.
 

As Minnesota continues to reopen for community activities, new guidelines from MDH seek to balance the goals of minimizing disease transmission and allowing young people to engage in sports activities that have important physical, emotional and social benefits.
The new guidance allows sports games and scrimmages to resume June 24 or later for outdoor sports, and July 1 or later for indoor sports. MDH still recommends a phased-in approach for reopening, especially for sports that have not been able to have games until now.
View the new sports guidance and answers to frequently asked questions at Community Settings: COVID-19

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To further meet the needs of U.S. small businesses and non-profits, the U.S. Small Business Administration has reopened the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Advance program portal to all eligible applicants experiencing economic impacts due to COVID-19.
The EIDL program offers long-term, low interest assistance for a small business or non-profit. These loans can provide vital economic support to help alleviate temporary loss of revenue. EIDL assistance can be used to cover payroll and inventory, pay debt or fund other expenses. Additionally, the EIDL Advance will provide up to $10,000 ($1,000 per employee) of emergency economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing temporary difficulties, and these emergency grants do not have to be repaid.
For additional information, please visit the SBA disaster assistance website.