Funding Opportunities

Today I’m all about funding opportunities. If your business could use assistance, read on!

Overarching: the American Rescue Plan has spun off a large number of programs to help support and grow our businesses and economy. This is great news, but we also can understand how it can be overwhelming.  In case it’s helpful, I wanted to make sure you had access to this guide that shares an overview of available opportunities all in one place. Here’s the link: A Guide for Navigating Funding Available for Business Growth.
 
DEED’s Main Street COVID Relief Grants program

• What: this program was approved by MN Legislature and Governor Walz on June 30, 2021, providing a total of $64.2M in grants to businesses.
• When: Applications window is open through September 29 at 11:59 pm.
• How Much: $10,000 - $25,000 based on size of company, available in grants for Minnesotan-owned and operated businesses that can demonstrate financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• Eligibility: Businesses that are majority-owned by military veterans, women, and Black, Indigenous, and people of color individuals; employ six people or fewer; and/or did not receive previous assistance from other state relief programs will be prioritized in the selection process. Funding will be distributed in a 50/50 split between businesses located in the Twin Cities metro area and in Greater Minnesota. Additional eligibility requirements and application information can be found at DEED’s Main Street COVID Relief Grants Program page. 
• To apply: you can watch DEED’s How To Apply For The Minnesota Main Street COVID Relief Grant video. Previously recorded information sessions are on YouTube.  Visit the website to get all the information:https://mn.gov/deed/business/financing-business/deed-programs/emergency-programs/main-street/.If you have questions related to the program, you can email MSCRG.DEED@state.mn.us.

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 Comcast RISE Investment Fund

• What: Comcast has announced it will award $1 million in grants, as well as technology and marketing resources, to 100 small businesses owned by People of Color, including Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, and Asian American owners, among others, in the Twin Cities. The press release is available here, for additional information.
• When: The window to apply is October 1 – 14, 2021. Recipients will be announced at the end of November.
• How Much: 100 grants, $10,000 each, totaling $1 million.
• Eligibility: To qualify, grant applicants must have been in business for three or more years, employ a staff of between 1-25 employees, operate in the seven-county Twin Cities metro, and meet other Comcast RISE eligibility requirements, found here.
• To Apply: follow this link.

 
Saint Paul Restaurant Resiliency Program Phase 3

• What: NCXT continues to partner with the City of Saint Paul in their ongoing investment in the city’s restaurant industry. NCXT is providing a range of services for small, independent, and minority-owned restaurants.
• When: Ongoing

• Eligibility and to Apply: owners or operators of restaurants with 4 or fewer locations. For additional eligibility and informational orientation, follow this registration link. ​

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In other news… Home is where the win is! Saints walk their way to 11-1 victory in home finale, Vikings take Seattle in front of over 66,000 fans, Kiril Kaprisov will play his first Wild home game on October 19th., and the St. Paul Grill reopens on October 8.   Aaaah…...
 
See you in the trenches.
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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given authorization for Pfizer to give third doses to people aged 65 and older, those who are at high risk of severe illness, as well as frontline workers. Not a done deal quite yet, as the CDC has yet to weigh in on who it believes should get boosters and when. President Biden has said that that 20 million people could get boosters immediately because they had gotten their second Pfizer-BioNTech shots at least six months ago. In all, 60 million people will be eligible for a 3rd Pfizer shot over the coming months. The F.D.A. is reviewing data for a Moderna boosterbut has not received an application from Johnson & Johnson for a booster of its vaccine.
 
Vaccinated make up minority of severe COVID-19 hospitalizations in Minnesota: Updates from two large Minnesota hospital systems show that fully vaccinated people make up a minority of COVID-19 hospitalizations and an even lower share of severe illness requiring intensive care and ventilators. Read more.
 
What can employers do now to prepare for Biden’s vaccine mandate?

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has issued warnings and the political drama on Capitol Hill is already unfolding. That’s right, it’s debt ceiling season. Government funding is set to run dry at 12:01 a.m. this Friday without congressional action. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has set up a procedural vote today on a measure that would suspend the federal debt limit. Also included are domestic disaster relief and money for Afghan refugees. The bill is sure to meet resistance from Republicans. Remember: failure to raise or suspend the debt limit does not lead to government shutdown; defaulting on debts, however, is definitely a very real risk.  ​

Rent Control Initiative is on the November ballot for Saint Paul’s voters to consider. Wondering what it’s all about?

• Rent control in other cities is restricted to certain buildings or tenants…this measure goes too far.”
• Will proposal help tenants or discourage new units?
• Diving deep to determine this is the worst version of rent control this former commissioner has ever seen.

 
Read more updates in our weekly Chamber Advocacy Update.

Top things to do in Saint Paul this Fall!
Fall Festivities: Autumn Events in the Capital City!
 

• Minnesota Wild Kickoff Event on Tuesday, 9/28, 9am-1pm. We ARE the State of Hockey, and it’s time again to welcome in the season! We are invited to watch a team practice and then have lunch while we hear from the GM and players.  In case you haven’t been paying attention, we’ve got a stellar line-up of new young players, and I’m looking forward to a very strong season.
• Women’s Speed Networking Event on Wednesday, 9/29, 8-9:30am.  In partnership with NAWBO, come meet some new people!

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Find these and more on our Events  Calendar!

Business Strategy, Why We Need to Think Like Scientists: the strategy expert explains how methods like peer review and testing can help when making strategic decisions. Put it to the test: use these 8 scientific methods to evaluate your business strategy.

Metropolitan State University sets the bar!

• Metropolitan State University has received the 2021 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversitymagazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. As a recipient of the national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion, the university will be featured, along with 100 other recipients, in the November 2021 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. This is the fourth year Metropolitan State University has been named a recipient.
• CollegeNet’s 2020 Social Mobility Index rankings continue to affirm Metropolitan State University’s effectiveness at improving the economic outcomes for our students. Once again ranked at the top for Minnesota four-year institutions, Metro State also climbed into the top 2.7% nationally among the 1,449 ranked institutions. The index is a measure of a college or university’s success in elevating students from low income strata into the middle class by five years after graduation evaluated through tax filing data.

Met Council is providing some great research:

• According to a Met Council report, housing production is strong, but not for those in greatest need.
• And a second fascinating report: of the 1.9M acres in the 7-county metro area, land use inventory shows the region’s spatial development over time.

 
And in the development world:      

• Midway Shopping Center teardown begins in St. Paul.  
  
• Bix Warehouse is back on the market. And the Port Authority is looking at the building for future development. What for, you ask? Read on!
  
• ​The City of Saint Paul plans to reconstruct Minnesota Street from Kellogg Boulevard to 11th Street starting in 2023. A virtual meeting for the project has been scheduled for October 5, 2021 at 6PM to discuss current design concepts and answer questions. The project website has more information, including call-in details for the meeting.  ​