The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is accepting applications for its new Main Street COVID Relief Grants program.
In total, $64,200,000 is available in grants for Minnesotan-owned and operated businesses that can demonstrate financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Businesses that are majority-owned by military veterans, women, and Black, Indigenous, and people of color individuals; employ six people or fewer; and/or did not receive previous assistance from other state relief programs will be prioritized in the selection process. Funding will be distributed in a 50/50 split between businesses located in the Twin Cities metro area and in Greater Minnesota.
DEED staff is hosting several outreach sessions, which businesses can join or watch recordings of, including:
· Informational webinar as the grants launched
Applicants that qualify and are selected will receive a grant amount between $10,000 and $25,000 based on the number of full-time equivalent (FTEs) employees on staff. To be eligible, businesses must operate in Minnesota and be majority owned by a resident of Minnesota. Additional eligibility requirements and application information can be found at DEED’s Main Street COVID Relief Grants Program page.
Frequently Asked Questions are being updated as we get inquires. Additionally, translated program information may be found on the DEED website in Hmong, Somali, Spanish and Vietnamese. A How To Apply For The Minnesota Main Street COVID Relief Grant video may also be viewed in Hmong, Somali and Spanish. Previously recorded information sessions are on YouTube.
The application will close at 11:59 p.m. Sept. 29. Afterward, grant applications will be selected for consideration through a computer-generated, randomized selection process. For more information related to the program, email MSCRG.DEED@state.mn.us.
