New COVID-19 Business Grant Program from Anoka County

Anoka County is offering a business and nonprofit relief grant program to support local businesses and organizations impacted by COVID-19. Grants will be awarded in an amount based on the criteria set forth below. The application window will open soon and will remain open as applications will be reviewed on a first come first serve basis.

Applicants that were impacted directly and indirectly as a result of Executive Order 20-99 will be prioritized first in review. Directly impacted is defined as a business organization that was forced to close or reduce occupancy due to EO 20-99. Indirectly impacted by EO 20-99 is defined as a business organization that primarily derives income from sales of goods and services to businesses that were directly closed as a result of EO 20-99.

Applicants that did not receive Cares Act grant relief will also receive priority in the state grant review process. In the event funds remain, all other applicants will be reviewed for eligibility based upon demonstrated economic impact from the pandemic. Grant funds must be distributed by March 15, 2021.

Eligibility Criteria:

Applicants must have a physical establishment in Anoka County. If there is a parent organization/company or a second location outside of Anoka County, only the entity located in Anoka County can apply to receive a grant.
Eligible nonprofits will include 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(9) veteran’s organizations.
501(c)(6) nonprofits are ineligible, with the exception of chambers of commerce organizations with a physical establishment in Anoka County, which are eligible.
Applicants must be able to demonstrate and document a financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Applicants must be in good standing with the Minnesota Secretary of State with no outstanding tax liens filed against the organization.
If required, applicants must be licensed, in good standing with all local city ordinances.
Organizations that opened during the pandemic are eligible. However, the applicants will need to provide clear documentation of how the pandemic impacted the operating expenses of the organization/company. No start-up costs will be considered.
Organizations must have generated at least $10,000 in revenue through the end of 2020 to be eligible.
Applicants must disclose all federal, state or local grants received in 2020 and grants for which applicant has applied, which remain pending at the time of application.
Applicants must certify in good faith that all documentation submitted is accurate and that any misrepresentations or fraudulent information will require recoupment of funds.
Home-based businesses or nonprofits are eligible so long as they have at least one or more W-2 employee in addition to the principal. Home-based businesses are defined as businesses where the primary office is registered and located at the owner’s residence/property.
Freelance or organized musicians and performing artists in Minnesota, who work or reside in Anoka County, are eligible to apply for grants under the solo business employee category, or home-based business category (if applicable) with no requirement of having one or more W-2 employees.

Ineligible Businesses or Nonprofits:

Businesses/nonprofits that primarily derive income from gambling or adult entertainment are ineligible.
Corporate chains, multi-state chains are ineligible.
Businesses/nonprofits that derive more than 50 percent of income from other real estate related services, such as sales/brokerage, property management, etc., are ineligible.
501 (C)(6) nonprofits are ineligible, with the exception of chambers of commerce organizations.

Grant Amounts:

Eligible businesses and nonprofits will receive a grant payment based on their number of employees prior to closure. Applicants will need to show number of employees as of February 1, 2020 with their application. Newer businesses may disclose number of employees at time of opening. Grants received from all sources must not exceed the amounts of operating expenses the applicant incurred since the pandemic, nor exceed their total losses since the pandemic.

The grant payments are considered taxable income and will be calculated as shown below:

Businesses/nonprofits with 1-20 FTE employees up to $15,000
Businesses/nonprofits with 21-100 FTE employees up to $25,000
Businesses/nonprofits with 101-300 FTE employees up to $35,000
Businesses/nonprofits with 300 or more FTE employees up to $45,000

Chambers of Commerce nonprofits located in Anoka County grant amounts will be calculated as shown below:

Chambers with 200 or less members up to $15,000
Chambers with 201 or more members up to $25,000

Home-based businesses:

Eligible for up to $10,000

More Information

The information outlined above is intended to be general guidance. Final grant decisions will be made by the Application Review Panel in consultation with the County Administrator after a thorough review of all application materials. After the initial funding round, the County reserves the right to amend any criteria for eligibility as needed to best address the impact of the current pandemic.
Learn more and apply at AnokaCountySuccess.org.