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Boreal Community Media

Friday deadline for grants for Cook County businesses

Jan 19, 2021 08:49AM ● By Editor
By Jim Boyd, Executive Director of the Cook County Chamber of Commerce - January 19, 2021

The State of Minnesota has provided a grant of $256,250 to Cook County to provide Business Relief Grants. The grant program is administered by Cook County Government, the Cook County/Grand Marais EDA, NE MN Small Business Development Center, and Cook County Chamber of Commerce.

Grants are available up to $7,500.00.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development has directed counties to use the funds to make grants to individual business and nonprofits using these guidelines:

  • Are located in the applicable county in the state of Minnesota or on adjacent tribal land.
  • Have no current tax liens on file with the secretary of state as of the time of application for a grant under this section.
  • Was impacted by an executive order related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • A county must determine grant recipients and the grant amount awarded per grant.
  • Each county may use the greater of $6,250 or 2.5% of the amount received under this program for administration costs incurred from making grants under this program. A county may contract with a third party to administer the grant program on behalf of the county.
  • Grant funds must be used by the eligible business or nonprofit for operation expenses incurred during the Covid-19 pandemic. Acceptable uses include but are not limited to: Property taxes , insurance costs, legal fees, payroll, rent, utilities, marketing/advertising, licensing fees, accounting fees, routine maintenance, travel/vehicle expenses, office supplies, repairs to the existing building and equipment.
  • A county may award a grant to a business that is owned by a tribal government and located on tribal land if the business has voluntarily complied with Executive Orders No. 20-99.
  • Nonprofits, nonprofit arts organizations, nonprofit museums and nonprofit fitness centers that earn revenue similar to businesses, including but not limited to ticket sales and membership fees, are eligible for grants.
  • The county will periodically report expenditures from this funding source required by the State.
  • Grants under this program must be awarded by March 15, 2021.

Applications online:
http://prosperitynorth.com/_b_state_of_mn_business_r

If you need help with the application please email me. We can Zoom, phone or email.  [email protected], 651-336-2964
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