Deadline: 14-Jan-21
The Hennepin County is seeking applications for its Small Business Relief Fund to support small businesses and nonprofits that have been financially harmed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Funding Information
- A total of $24.6 million is available.
- Eligible businesses and nonprofits can apply for grant amounts as follows:
- Sole proprietors with a physical commercial location and no W-2 employees: $10,000
- Home-based businesses with W-2 employees: $10,000
- Organizations with a commercial location and W-2 employees, other than an owner: $15,000
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible applicants include:
- For-profit businesses, including owner-operated franchise businesses.
- Nonprofits that earn revenue similar to businesses and were impacted by Executive Order 20-99 Section 7ciii. Examples include nonprofit cafes or coffee shops; nonprofit theaters, museums, music or arts organizations that primarily earn revenue through ticket sales; nonprofit fitness centers that earn revenue by membership dues or other fee-for-service models.
- Home-based or mobile businesses/nonprofits with one or more W-2 employee in addition to an owner.
- Businesses that opened during the pandemic and were required to close or partially close by Executive Order 20-99 Section 7ciii.
Applicants listed above must meet all criteria below:
- Have a permanent location in Hennepin County
- Have no more than 150 employees per location as of March 2020
- Be registered with no current tax liens on record with the Minnesota Secretary of State
- Have a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan in effect
- Be able to provide documentation of revenue of at least $10,000 in 2020 and revenue impacts
- Certify in good faith that all documentation submitted is accurate and that any misrepresentations or fraudulent information will require funds to be returned
- Be impacted by an executive order to reduce the spread of COVID-19, and be included in one of the categories below:
- Businesses and nonprofits required to close or partially close by Executive Order 20-99 Section 7ciii, including restaurants, bars, breweries, distilleries, caterers, music and other indoor entertainment venues, performance venues, gyms, fitness studios or other indoor recreation venues, or businesses that primarily derive income from sales of goods and services to entities directly affected by EO 20-99.
- Businesses impacted by prior executive orders that reduced capacity and whose revenue decreased by at least 30%, including customer-facing businesses such as personal care and salon businesses; retail businesses that sell household goods or services; other customer-facing businesses that rely on in-person transactions or services, such as dry cleaners, house cleaning businesses. Business types not explicitly and directly impacted by executive order must provide documentation of 30% decrease in year-over-year revenue (April-September).
For more information, visit https://www.hennepin.us/economic-development/programs/Emergency-relief