Deadline: 30-Oct-20
The Steele County encourages for its CARES Nonprofit Relief Grant Program to support local nonprofits impacted by COVID-19.
The goal of the program is to help non-profit organizations or agencies respond to the extraordinary needs of the populations they serve as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Funding Information
- Grants will not exceed $10,000 and can be used to reimburse nonprofits for eligible expenses incurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic after March 1, 2020.
- The total amount of CARES Act funds allocated towards the Steele County’s nonprofit relief grant program is $450,000.
Examples of Eligible Uses of Grant Funds
Funds may be used to cover operating expenses or other critical business expenses to modify operations as a result of the public health emergency, including:
- Lease or mortgage payments, except for government leases;
- Accounts payable (AP) if the AP is a COVID-19 related expense incurred since March 1, 2020;
- Payroll related to COVID-19 unless the nonprofit received Paycheck Protection;
- Program (PPP) funds or pandemic unemployment insurance (UI) to assist with payroll expenses incurred after March 1, 2020;
- Reopening costs or safety improvement costs expended since March 1, 2020 (i.e. personal protective equipment, plexiglass, cleaning products, etc.);
- Operating utilities or fees for those facilities interrupted or forced to shut down incurred between March 1, 2020 and the application deadline;
- Increased programmatic costs as a result of expanding program services to respond to the public health emergency and mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eligibility Criteria
- To be eligible, a business must demonstrate that its operations have been directly and adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Applicant must be established, operated and domiciled in Steele County.
- Applicant must be physically located within Steele County. If there is a parent organization/company or a second location, only the entity located in or serving residents in Steele County may apply to receive a grant and grant funds issued must be used for the local organization’s or agency’s expenditures.
- Applicant must be a registered nonprofit organization and provide an explanation of nonprofit type.
- Applicant must be in good standing with the Minnesota Secretary of State and the Minnesota Department of Revenue as of March 1, 2020. If there is an issue pending with the Minnesota Secretary of State, Applicant may still apply for the grant, but will need to demonstrate the issue has been satisfactorily resolved in order to be eligible and receive grant funds.
- If required, Applicant must be licensed, in good standing.
- Applicant must be current on property taxes.
- Applicant must have been in operation since November 1, 2019.
- Applicant must disclose all federal, state or local grant or loan an application for which applicant has applied, which has been received or remains pending at the time of application.
- Ineligible Nonprofits/ Restrictions:
- Applicants who have previously received federal, state or local grants for the same expenses or services.
- Nonprofits that primarily derive income from gambling or adult entertainment are ineligible.
- Payments of taxes or government utilities or fees are ineligible.
- A nonprofit corporation that receives funds under this Non-profit Relief Grant Program may not use such funds to provide a loan to a related business.
For more information, visit https://www.co.steele.mn.us/divisions/administration/coronavirus_relief_fund_(crf)/community_relief_support_program_(non-profits).php