This program will make available $10,000 – $25,000 grants to Minnesotan owned and operated businesses that can demonstrate financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. A total $64,200,000 is available for grant applications selected for consideration through a computer-generated, randomized selection process.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) will oversee the Main Street Covid Relief Grants Program approved by the Minnesota State Legislature and signed by Gov. Tim Walz on June 30, 2021.

Applicants that have not received assistance through previous relief programs will be prioritized for consideration. These programs include the Small Business Emergency Loan program, the Small Business Relief Grant Program, the Movie Theater and Convention Center Relief Grant program, and the County Relief Grant program.

Applicants will receive a grant amount based on the number of full-time equivalent (FTEs) employees on staff.

• $10,000 – 6 FTEs or less.
• $15,000 – Between 7 and 49 FTEs
• $20,000 – Between 50 and 99 FTEs
• $25,000 – Between 100 and 200 FTEs

Applications will be reviewed and awards will be disbursed and administered by qualified local and regionally based nonprofit organizations. Grant funds received by individual businesses shall be used for working capital to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility bills, and other similar expenses that occur or have occurred since March 12, 2020, in the regular course of business. These are grants and no repayment will be required.

Eligibility

To qualify, an applicant must:

• Be private for-profit business or non-profit organization (that earns revenue in ways similar to a business) with primary operations located in the state of Minnesota.
• Be at least 50% owned by one or more resident(s) of Minnesota.
• Employee the equivalent of 200 full-time workers or less.
• Be able to demonstrate financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
• Minimum total sales or revenue of at least $10,000 for the 2020 or 2019 tax year.

In making awards, there are minimum set asides for various targeted groups and categories of businesses.

• 50% of funds will be available for businesses based in Greater Minnesota.
• 50% of funds will be available for businesses based in the 7-county metro area (Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington counties).
  • A minimum amount of funds must be awarded as follows:
    $18 million for businesses with six or fewer full-time workers.
  • $10 million for businesses that are majority owned and operated by Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC).
  • $2.5 million for businesses that are majority owned and operated by veterans.
  • $2.5 million for businesses that are majority owned and operated by women.

What can these grants be used for?

Grant funds shall be used for working capital to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility bills, and other similar expenses that occur or have occurred since March 1, 2020, in the regular course of business. All uses must be exclusively for Minnesota operations.

How is revenue defined?

For the purposes of this program, we can accept either accrual or cash basis accounting when calculating revenues over the relevant time period. Whatever method is used, it should be consistent between the two years being compared.

I received forgivable loans, grants, and/or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) in 2020. Do I count these as revenue for this program? What if these funds were sufficient to make up for any revenue losses I experienced during this time period?

Generally, yes, you should count the proceed of forgivable loans, PUA benefits, or grants as revenue. If this revenue was sufficient that your business did not experience at least a 10% revenue loss year-over-year between March 1 and May 31, 2019 vs. 2020, then your business should not apply to this program.

Grant Application

Questions or need assistance? Contact one of our experts at (888) 388-1040.