Today, April 8, 2020, the Governor extended the Stay at Home order and the closure of bars and restaurants to May 4th. He also announced flexibility for more businesses to continue operating including lawn care, landscaping, agricultural equipment repair, garden centers, nurseries, and more.
Under the extended order, Minnesotans can continue to leave their homes for health and safety reasons, getting groceries and take-out food, filling gas tanks, and taking part in outdoor activities, assuming they continue to abide by social distancing and other guidelines put forth by the MN Department of Health. The full list of exceptions can be found in the order.
I hope that as the Stay at Home order continues, Governor Walz allows more businesses to reopen if they can do so safely.
Financial Assistance for Veterans Now Available
Veterans and surviving spouses who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic are now able to access a pair of state programs created to provide them with financial assistance. COVID-19 specific programs have been activated specifically in response to mitigate the economic effects COVID-19 is having on our veterans and their families.
According to the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA), these programs can close at any time without notice if funding for the program is exhausted. Status updates will be available on the MDVA website regarding the status of these programs. All of the grants are awarded on a first come, first serve basis, and the amount of grants awarded is limited to the length of existing funding.
The Legislature also approved COVID-19 Disaster relief grants, which are designed to mitigate the negative effects and economic impact COVID-19 has had on Veterans and their families by providing a one-time financial relief grant in the amount of $1,000.
Applications for the disaster relief grant must be dated no earlier than March 13, 2020. A closing date for the disaster relief grant has yet to be determined and will depend on the length of the peacetime emergency declared by the Governor of the State of Minnesota and the availability of funding.
To qualify for the COVID-19 Special Needs Grant, applicants must be:
A Veteran or the surviving spouse (who has not remarried) of a deceased veteran as defined by MN Statute 197.447, and
A Minnesota Resident, and
Have been negatively financial impacted by COVID-19.
* Note: Two Veterans married to each other are both authorized to apply for and receive the disaster relief grant.
Full information can be found on the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs website at https://mn.gov/mdva/
Disaster Recovery Loans Available for Farmers
The Minnesota Disaster Recovery Loan Program is now accessible to farmers who are suffering financial damages related to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Legislative approval of a bill March 26 increased program flexibility, providing a resource to farmers for expenses not covered by insurance.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) specified that program dollars can be used to “replace livestock or flocks, make building improvements, or cover the loss of revenue. Loan proceeds may also be used to repair or replace septic and water systems, and replace destroyed agricultural buildings.”
The program is coordinated by the Rural Finance Authority (RFA) and farmers will work through their local lenders to secure financing. The MDA reports the RFA participation in a qualifying loan is limited to 45 percent of the principal amount, up to $200,000. Other terms, conditions and qualification standards apply and can be found at the MDA website, or by calling (651) 201-6666.
Additional Resources
We have put together a list of resources including general information, business and unemployment resources, information on utilities and more. If you are looking for information, I would encourage you to check out this page.
The governor’s office announced a new website where they will compile the most up-to-date data and statistics on the COVID-19 pandemic and state response. You can find that information at mn.gov/COVID19.
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