10/22/2021 1:08:17 PM
Commissioner Steve Grove
Last week, we conducted a lottery for the $64.2 million in grants available for Minnesota businesses who suffered during the pandemic. Potential grantees were randomly selected from applications for the Main Street COVID-19 Relief Grants through a process established in consultation with the Minnesota Lottery, which was also used for the past round of the Small Business Relief Grants. These grants will help thousands of Minnesota businesses recover from a difficult year. This week, our team at DEED notified applicants for the Main Street COVID Relief Grant program whether or not their application has been randomly selected for consideration.
But there are still steps in the process before grants are awarded.
Our DEED team conducting the lottery for COVID-19 Grants last week
This new program provides between $10,000 and $25,000 in grants for Minnesota businesses that had and can demonstrate financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our program prioritized businesses that did not previously receive other state relief program funding and those that are majority-owned by veterans, women and Black, Indigenous and people of color. Additionally, it ensures a 50/50 split between the Twin Cities metro area and Greater Minnesota.
The next step for businesses that have been selected is that within the next 10 business days one of the authorized non-profit agencies listed below will reach out to recipients via email to begin working to verify documentation and eligibility. Once approved, those winners will be required to sign a grant agreement before receiving the funds from the grant.
Businesses not selected through the random selection process have been placed on a waiting list. As this process moves forward, spots for applications may become available. If your business is impacted by such a change, we will follow up with you by email. In addition applicants can log in the application portal here at any time and see the status of their application.
We are happy to take this next step. Stay with us as we continue to work as quickly as possible to get funds out to Minnesota businesses.
Authorized non-profit agencies that will work with grantees are listed below. As we work together on processing a large number of grant applications please wait to be contacted by the appropriate agency if you were selected for a grant. We appreciate your patience!
