CEDA

Article By: Rebecca Charles

It is thanks to the generosity of institutions like the Hayfield City Council and the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation that local businesses in Hayfield are able to continue operating through this pandemic.  The Hayfield Economic Development Authority (EDA) was able to construct two separate grant programs, making funding available to all local business owners.  CEDA team member and Hayfield EDA Director, Rebecca Charles, authored and implemented the two programs to local for profit and non-profit businesses.  All applicants were encouraged to spend their grant dollars locally if possible to help stimulate the local economy.

The first program, the Healthy Hayfield Reimbursement Program, was created in an effort to provide the resources necessary to make doing business in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic safe for all existing Hayfield area businesses.  The program was made possible through a $10,000 grant awarded by the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF). To date, the program has assisted more than ten small businesses in the Hayfield area. In addition to assisting applicants, funds are also requested to be spent locally.

While the extra funds were effective in providing PPE, cleaning supplies and other resources for doing business safely, many businesses were still in danger of permanent closure because of decreased business and temporary shut downs due to State mandates.  With the help of Charles, the City Council allocated $30,000 for the purpose of creating the Small Business Retention Grant program. “It is extremely comforting to see local businesses getting the funding that they need to stay afloat” said Charles.  “It is the job of every local government to do all that they can to safeguard their local economies”.  Applicants only needed to show their loss of income or costs associated with the alteration of their physical location to accommodate COVID-19 restrictions in order to qualify. The Small Business Retention Grant provided necessary funds to more than a dozen local businesses through the Hayfield EDA. 

All details regarding both grant programs can be found on the city website at hayfieldmn.com or by contacting CEDA associate Rebecca Charles at rebecca.charles@cedausa.com.

Article By: Chris Hahn

Businesses in Grand Meadow Minnesota, will now be able to apply for financial assistance to repair, preserve, and update commercial properties within the city limits. A newly created Structure and Façade, Improvement Forgivable Loan Program sets aside a total amount of $45,000 that allows for external maintenance and repairs to existing commercial structures.

“Grand Meadow has some truly unique and historic commercial properties that have incredible potential for our community and businesses,” said Chris Hahn, the CEDA team member currently serving as EDA Director for City of Grand Meadow. “This is a matching funds program, where the EDA will match dollar for dollar up to the maximum loan amount upon project completion, and that match is forgivable over five years as providing the building does not change ownership.”

Businesses who qualify can apply for either a $5,000 or $10,000 matching loan. There are three available awards of $5,000 and three awards of $10,000. The program requires that at least 25% of total project funds (owner’s investment plus the EDA match) be used for street-facing, façade improvements such as windows, doors, entryways, etc. It also requires that street-facing façade improvements be completed in an “era-appropriate” manner, as Grand Meadow has a combination of both modern and historic properties. 

“It is both a joy and an enormous challenge to restore the historic buildings in our rural community,” states Shawn Vogt Sween, owner of several historic commercial properties in Grand Meadow. “We are thankful the City of Grand Meadow is joining the effort by committing funds and attention to the issue of historic building preservation. Together, we’ll leave a lasting legacy for future generations.”

The Structure and Façade Improvement Forgivable Loan Program was created through a continued desire to invest back into the Grand Meadow community and offer a program that allows owners of historic & commercial properties to invest in space that facilitates small business and economic growth. This program’s funding comes from existing money set aside by the City of Grand Meadow for distribution by the Economic Development Authority for community investment and enrichment projects.  The EDA will begin reviewing applications in January of 2021.  

Article By: Mitch Massman

On May 28, 2020, as bars and restaurants began outdoor dining, the City of Pine Island City Council authorized the funding of tent rentals from Majestic Events through June. These tents allowed three bars and three restaurants the ability to increase their servicing capacity while remaining in compliance with the Governor’s Executive Orders, liquor license laws, and insurance guidelines.

As the pandemic continued, the City wanted to continue offering tent rentals for as long as they could budget. CEDA team member serving Pine Island, Mitch Massman assisted in authoring a grant application through the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation to obtain additional funding to continue the tent rental program. On September 21, 2020, SMIF awarded the City of Pine Island a $10,000 grant to continue funding the program.

This program has had the full support of each bar and restaurant. Bobbi Jo Kennedy, the owner of Betty Sue’s Better Brew Café, stated, “the tent helped us keep business up to speed as our restaurant has a small seating capacity to start with. We have had many great reviews about the tent and our customers would love it if we had it year-round.” Not only have the tents allowed these restaurants to expand their seating, but they have also provided a safe environment for members of the community to dine out and support local businesses throughout the pandemic.

Article By: Abby Wright

Community facilities that provide public services such as community support, education, safety, utilities, healthcare, and government are essential, but maintenance and improvements are costly.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program aids small communities with the purchase, construction, and/or improvement of essential community facilities, including equipment purchases and other related expenses, such as engineering and administrative fees. 

CEDA Vice President, Chris Giesen, has authored and was awarded the Community Facilities Direct Grant in 2016, 2019, and 2020 on behalf of Harmony, MN—totaling $117,510 toward the installation of an emergency/backup electric generator at the city’s wastewater treatment plant, as well as the purchase of other equipment for the ambulance and public works. 

The Community Facilities Direct loan may span up to 40 years, and the grant may fund up to 75% of eligible project costs up to the grant maximum, which depends on the population and median household income of the city. The loan and grant may be used in combination, and both programs are ongoing. 

If you would like to learn about CEDA’s grant services, please visit the Grant Resources page at cedausa.com, or contact Courtney.Bergey@cedausa.com.

Article by: Allison Wagner

On July 14, 2020, the Houston County Board of Commissioners allocated $1,130,000 of County CARES Act Funds to be disbursed to local small businesses in the form of an economic development relief grant to partially reimburse the cost of business interruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. La Crescent Township also allocated dollars towards this program. 

CEDA team member, Allison Wagner, who serves as the Houston County EDA Director, worked with the Houston County Economic Development Board to create the Houston County CARES Business Relief Grant. Wagner was tasked with creating a timeline, drafting the application, advertising the grant, answering questions from applicants, and performing the initial review of each grant application. 

The program opened in August, and 252 grant applications were received by the final October 30th deadline. Eligible businesses included registered or licensed State businesses in good standing, nonprofits with a physical brick-and-mortar building, sole proprietors, and farmers.

Due to the high number of applicants, Houston County allocated additional dollars and ran three application rounds so that all 242 of the eligible grant applicants could be awarded a total of $1,157,166.36 in grant funds. 

The impressive number of applicants and amount of funding awarded was due largely to the enthusiasm of those who found out about the program. Wagner says, “I am proud of how our businesses in Houston County have been creative and adaptable though the pandemic, not only in their own places of business, but also when it comes to helping neighboring businesses. It was the businesses who helped the EDA spread the word about the grant opportunity.”