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:

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 fill out this form.

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
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 Emergency Assistance Loans
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 https://www.sba.gov/disaster-assistance/coronavirus-covid-19

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 options.

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

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)
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 30-day Sales and Use Tax grace period 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.

FAQ’s

Q. How do I register as an essential business?  

A: The State of Minnesota is developing a list of Critical Sector businesses (Essential businesses). Please fill out the Critical Sector work exemption form to start this process. Contact the State of Minnesota for additional information.

Other Resources

Minnesota Dept. of Health: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/businesses.html

Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Toolkit – available to both members and non-members:  https://www.mnchamber.com/blog/covid-19-business-toolkit

Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry – Info relative to the trades, license exams and workers compensation. https://www.dli.mn.gov/updates

CareerForceMN - https://www.careerforcemn.com/

Center for Disease Control and Prevention – planning guides for businesses: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/businesses-employers.html

EEOC – Pandemic Preparedness in the Workplace and the Americans with Disabilities Act: https://www.eeoc.gov/facts/pandemic_flu.html

OSHA – Guidance on Preparing Workplace for COVID-19: https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3990.pdf

League of MN Cities - https://www.lmc.org/resources/critical-sector-information/

MetroNorth Chamber - Business resource page https://www.metronorthchamber.org/ 
MetroNorth Chamber - Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/MetroNorthCares

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