DEED COVID-19 UPDATE:
Regarding restaurant, bar and other hospitality closures.
St. Paul -  In order to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Governor Walz announced the temporary closure of Minnesota restaurants and bars to dine-in customers as well as the closure of other places of public accommodation and amusement. This order is effective March 17th at 5:00 p.m. until March 27 at 5:00 p.m. The closures will be evaluated at the end of this 10-day period.
The Governor also issued an executive order to help ensure that workers who are not able to work as a result of COVID-19 have benefits available. Workers who are unemployed or who have hours reduced due to the COVID-19 outbreak are asked to apply for unemployment benefits online at uimn.org .
The website can accept applications Monday through Friday 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Please apply on the website to ensure the most efficient processing of applications during this unprecedented situation.

Employers can find employer-focused COVID-19 related information that is updated regularly on the Information for Employers page .

Find out more about the actions taken on the Governor’s website .
For the most up to date information on what DEED is doing during the COVID-19 outbreak refer to COVID-19 webpage on the DEED website .
 
Upon request, this information can be made available in alternate formats for people with disabilities by contacting the DEED Communications Office at 651-259-7161.
Small Business Association Information From our Sleepy Eye EDA Coordinator - Kurk Kramer
As it relates to business, the most immediate order of business for DEED is to get the SBA economic injury disaster declaration which we are working on. We’ve got all of our lenders, initiative foundations and SBDC’s seeking businesses to fill out economic injury forms and demonstrate they have been impacted. Once we have that, we can move on getting approval for SBA disaster relief – businesses will apply directly to the SBA. Before that however, the SBAO is collecting email addresses of those impacted. My advice is to have businesses send an email to deed.mnsbao@state.mn.us. Once we have the declaration, we will be sending out the link to apply to the SBA. 
 
As it relates to DEED programs, we have no authority to do anything specific at this point but I assure you that we are considering many options. In the meantime, there is no reason that if the businesses are qualified, they could not apply to a lender in the Emerging Entrepreneur Program or Indian Business loan program for working capital. They should contact their local lenders for that. Furthermore, there is also no reason why a city couldn’t use their MIF RLF or other programs they have to do emergency loans. 
 
As it relates to DEED’s information available, here is our page at this time https://mn.gov/deed/newscenter/covid/. As it relates to general benefits for employees or for employers seeking guidance on their workforce, please direct everyone to www.uimn.org. 
 
I will share more information as it becomes available or please check these websites as they are updated. 
 
Thank you for your continued collaboration and partnership!
 
Lisa
 
Lisa Hughes | Regional Business Development Manager
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
12 Civic Center Plaza, Suite 1600A, Mankato, MN 56001
Direct: 507-344-2601 | Mobile: 507-380-3220