COVID-19 Business Resources

COVID-19

The City of Ramsey, in collaboration with Anoka County, has consolidated resources below to help ready and recover your business and workforce from the impacts of COVID-19. For general information for both businesses and employees affected by the COVID-19 virus implications and precautions, please visit the following page https://mn.gov/deed/newscenter/covid/. If you have specific questions that cannot be addressed, or if there are specific industry challenges, please use one of the contacts below:

City of Ramsey Economic Development
Sean Sullivan
ssullivan@cityoframsey.com
763-433-9868  		Anoka County Regional Economic Development
Jacquel Hajder
Jacquel.Hajder@co.anoka.mn.us
763-324-4609

2021 Covid Grant Anoka CoNEW - 2021 Anoka County Business and Non-Profit Relief Grant Available

To support businesses impacted by COVID-19, Anoka County is offering a NEW business and non-profit relief grant program. Visit www.anokacountysuccess.org for details and application.


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Minnesota Executive Order 21-01 Protecting Recent Progress and Cautiously Resuming Certain Activities  

Effective January 11, 2021, Executive Order 21-01 will allow the re-opening of businesses that have been closed as well as increase capacities for other businesses.  This includes:

  • Indoor dining at bars and restaurants can open at 50% capacity, with a maximum of 150 people. Parties of no more than six people must remain 6 feet from other parties; bar seating is open to parties of two; reservations are required; and establishments must close dine-in service by 10 p.m.
  • Gym capacity remains capped at 25% but maximum capacity increases to 150 and classes can increase to 25 people, assuming distancing can be observed. Machines and people must maintain 9 feet of distance. Face coverings are required.
  • Outdoor events and entertainment continue at 25% capacity, but maximum capacity increases to 250 people. Social distancing is required.
  • Indoor events and entertainment like bowling alleys, movie theaters, and museums may open at 25%, with no more than 150 people in each area of the venue. Face coverings are required, and they may not offer food service after 10 p.m.
  • Youth and adult organized sports have resumed practice as of Jan. 4 and games resume Jan. 14 with spectators, following the appropriate capacity limits for indoor or outdoor venues. Inter-region tournaments and out of state play are discouraged.
  • Pools opened on Jan. 4 for some activity and may now open at 25% capacity.
  • Wedding receptions and other private parties may resume with limits. If food and drink are served at the event, then they are limited to two households or 10 people indoors and three households or 15 people outdoors. If there is no food or drink, they are covered by event venue guidelines. Any related ceremony – like a wedding or funeral ceremony – is guided by rules for ceremonies and places of worship.
  • Places of worship remain open at 50% capacity but without an overall maximum capacity.

 Read full Executive Order 01-21 here.

Minnesota Departments of Employment and Economic Development and Revenue Announce Resources available through New Small Business Relief Package  

Three new programs included in Minnesota’s small business relief package were signed into law December 16, 2020 including COVID-19 Business Relief Payments (Aid for Restaurants, Bars, Gyms, and Bowling Centers). The Minnesota Department of Revenue (DOR) will administer this funding and notify eligible businesses through their e-Services account by December 31, 2020. Eligible business owners do not need to take any action to receive this aid. Payments will be mailed in early January 2021. For more information, please review eligibility, payment amounts, and the timeline.

The state is also working on a County Relief Program which will allow Minnesota counties to apply and disburse funds in the form of grants to local businesses. For more information on this program, visit the MN DEED website.

Anoka County Small Business Relief Grants

The State of Minnesota has allocated $7,157,052.76 to Anoka County for a Small Business Relief Grant Program.  Jacquel Hajder is the contact for this program. More information can be found at this link toward the bottom of the page COVID-19 Anoka County Business Resources – Anoka County Regional Economic Development (anokacountysuccess.org)

Minnesota Mask Requirement:  Slowing the Spread of COVID-19 to Keep Our Economy Open

As of July 25, 2020, per the Governor’s Executive Order 20-81, people in Minnesota are required to wear a face covering in all public indoor spaces and businesses, unless alone. Read the MN DEED article here. Read face covering requirement and order here.

MN DEED Guide for Small Businesses Needing Financial Help (March 31, 2020)COVID-19-Help-for-Business

View this summary guide from MN Department of Economic Development to help small businesses quickly see which programs might be right for their situation. (Note that many of these programs have closed or no longer have funds)

MN DEED Guidance for Safely Re-Opening Minnesota Businesses #StaysafeMN

View this summary page from MN Department of Economic Development for industry-specific guidance documents for businesses to aide in the development of its COVID-19 Preparedness Plan to safely re-open.

CARES Act

For more information about the CARES Act, please review the following documents:
Title I – Keeping American Workers Paid and Employed Act
Additional information on Keeping American Workers Paid & Employer Act
Title II – Assistance for American Workers, Businesses and Families
Title IV – Economic Stabilization & Assistance to Severely Distressed Sectors of US Economy
Healthcare Provisions
Employer Provisions

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Critical Sector Work Exemption (Essential Businesses)

For critical business identification, essential designation and more, go to
https://mn.gov/deed/newscenter/covid/business-exemptions/.
After utilizing the resources found in the above link and you still have questions about whether a business is eligible for the Critical Sector work exemption please contact CriticalSectors@state.mn.us. 

MN Executive Order 20-48: Critical Sector Workers Definitions and Guidance Document

Rapid Response

Employers planning a closure or major layoffs as a result of the coronavirus can get help through the Rapid Response program. Rapid Response teams will discuss your needs with you, help avert layoffs if possible, and provide services to assist workers facing job losses. For more information, visit DEED’s Rapid Response page or call 1-866-213-1422.

Grants & Loans

MN DEED Small Business Emergency Loan Program (Program Currently out of Money for Metro Area)money
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is offering emergency loans for small businesses that closed directly or indirectly from the Governor’s Executive Orders 20-04 & 20-08. Qualifying businesses are eligible for loans from $2,500 to $35,000. Loans are zero interest, must be paid back monthly over five (5) years and the first payment will be deferred six (6) months with potentially partial forgiveness. For more information or to apply, go to https://mn.gov/deed/business/financing-business/deed-programs/peacetime/ 

SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) ***Applications Window Still Open***
US Small Business Administration is issuing low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) For more information or to apply, go to EIDL Application

Paycheck Protection Program - PPP (Program Closed August 8, 2020)
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is an SBA loan that helps businesses keep their workforce employed during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. PPP Program Details

Bank Loans 
Contact your local bank partner to see if they are allowing payment deferrals.

Grants
Many corporations and non-profits have developed grant programs to assist companies affected by COVID-19. Contact Sean Sullivan (ssullivan@cityoframsey.com) or Jacquel Hajder (Jacquel.Hajder@co.anoka.mn.us) for the latest grant opportunities.

The City will continue to look at local alternatives to supplement the efforts of County, State and Federal Resources. 

Workforce 

Unemployment Insurance Information for Employers
On March 16, Governor Walz issued an executive order ensuring workers affected by COVID-19 have full access to unemployment benefits. The order also relieves taxpaying employers of benefit charges associated with COVID-19. This means a company’s unemployment tax rate will not increase if your workers collect unemployment benefits due to COVID-19. If your workers apply for unemployment benefits, DEED will let you know. For more information about unemployment insurance for employers, go to: https://www.uimn.org/employers/employer-account/news-updates/covid-19.jsp

Shared Work Program (Alternative to Layoffs)weld
Employers experiencing a slowdown in their businesses or services as a result of the coronavirus impact on the economy may apply for the Unemployment Insurance Shared Work Program. This program allows employers to seek an alternative to layoffs – retaining their trained employees by reducing their hours and wages that can be partially offset with UI benefits. Workers of employers who are approved to participate in the Shared Work Program receive the percentage of their weekly UI benefit amount based on the percentage of hours and wages reduced, not to exceed 60 percent. Learn more at: https://www.uimn.org/employers/alternative-layoff/index.jsp 

Anoka County Dislocated Worker Program (For permanent layoffs)
Our Dislocated Worker program offers free services to help individuals find suitable employment and help take the stress and uncertainty out of the process. Workers may be eligible for this program if they are out of work through no fault of their own, are eligible for unemployment insurance, and are unlikely to return to your previous occupation or industry. Learn more at: https://anokacounty.us/dw

Health Insurance Options for Laid-off Workers
Anytime a Minnesotan loses health coverage, including employer-sponsored coverage, they are eligible to enroll in coverage through MNsure.org via a special enrollment period for the 60 days following the loss of coverage. Additionally, if someone is eligible for Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare, enrollment is available at all times, regardless of when they might have last had coverage. Details at https://www.uimn.org/applicants/help-support/comm-organizations/healthcare.jsp

State & Federal Tax Assistance 

U.S. Treasury Department
The Treasury Department and IRS are extending the due date for Federal income tax filings & payments from April 15, 2020 to July 15, 2020. Visit https://home.treasury.gov/coronavirus for the latest updates.

MN Department of Revenue
Minnesota has also extended the due date for business and personal income tax filing & payments from April 15, 2020 to July 15, 2020. Visit https://www.revenue.state.mn.us/businesses for the latest updates.

Sales Tax Payment Extension for Eligible Businesses
The Minnesota Department of Revenue is granting a Sales and Use Tax grace period extension for businesses identified in Executive Order 20-04. During this time the department will not assess penalties or interest. For more information, visit their website at https://www.revenue.state.mn.us/sales-and-use-tax.

Other Resources

Central hub where individuals and families can access information on finding food, paying housing bills, or other essential services: Dial 2-1-1, 651-291-0211 or 1-800-543-7709 or Text ‘MNCOVID’ to 898211