HomeMy WebLinkAbout4.b. COVID Updates
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Port Authority Meeting: October 20, 2020
AGENDA ITEM: COVID-19 Update AGENDA SECTION:
Old Business
PREPARED BY: Eric Van Oss, Economic Development
Coordinator AGENDA NO. 4.b.
ATTACHMENTS: None. APPROVED BY: LJM
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Information Item
SUMMARY
Since the June 16, 2020, regular Port Authority meeting there have not been any changes to the Governor’s
Executive Order. There is a slight modification to guidelines which is outlined below. Staff continues to
have regular interactions with the State and County regarding COVID relief efforts and next steps. The
most significant initiative since the Port Authority’s last met is the first-round mail checks for the
Rosemount Cares Small Business Emergency Grant. See all updates below:
Rosemount CARES Small Business Emergency Grant: The initial grant application closed on August
28, 2020. After the September Port Authority meeting, the application process was reopened to Downtown
businesses only and the eligibly criteria remained the same. Staff printed out the applications and grant
information and personally dropped it off at businesses assumed to be eligible within the downtown
boundaries. Staff also followed up via email and calls to several of the business owners we have worked with
in the past.
After the extended application period, 40 CARES Grants (70 applications) have either been disbursed or are
in financial review. At this time, for various reasons, the City has probably hit a cap on the number of
businesses who will apply. Staff is aware that some businesses received money from other sources or used
PPP to cover most of their CARES eligible costs. Additionally, some are not comfortable providing
financial information subject to an audit. However, all businesses indicated they were appreciative of the
City's efforts and outreach.
Several downtown businesses indicated they would be interested in applying for other grants related to
building maintenance or downtown beautification if the City creates additional grant programs in the
future.
Dakota County Grant: Dakota County received 71 applications from businesses within Rosemount.
Twenty-seven businesses that applied for the Dakota County grant were also approved for the Rosemount
CARES grant and received City funding. The Port Authority may recall that businesses that receive CARES
Act funding from another source are not eligible for the Rosemount grant. Dakota County has notified
eligible applicants their intention to move forward with the financial review portion of the process and has
awarded 6 grants to Rosemount businesses. A map of Dakota County and Rosemount grantees can be
found here.
Restaurant Capacity: The Minnesota Department of Health rolled out new guidelines, updating previous
instructions for the hospitality industry to limit the spread of COVID-19. The changes include increased
per-table limits for dining parties to 10. The limit had been four, with up to six from a single household.
While the number of customers allowed at each table is larger, groups in bars are still limited to four people,
and nothing has changed with occupancy levels. It’s still half-capacity for up to 250 people for bars and
restaurants.
PPP: The Paycheck Protection Program stopped accepting applications on August 8, 2020 and there has
been no extension.