• Please donate at www.WeLoveStPaul.com.
• Non-monetary contributions, including volunteers, are being coordinated by the City of Saint Paul: nhn@ci.stpaul.mn.us
• See more ideas for how/where can you help here. 

• Your Midway Y has been serving over 42,000 meals since COVID 19 started. Last week they opened a food shelf hub and are looking for essential need supplies, volunteers and cash donations Click under designations: St. Paul Midway YMCA Following you will find a link for chamber members to sign up to help at the food shelf.

• Distillery gives away food and sets up fund for damaged businesses. Du Nord Craft Spirits, the country’s first black-owned distillery, suffered damage during the riots. "We had several folks break in and they started multiple fires in there," owner Chris Montana says quietly. "They stole some inventory, they burned what they couldn't carry." Together with his wife, Montana developed a plan to feed a community ravaged by rioting. Dozens of staff and volunteers started on Monday, giving away food, toiletries, and other desperately needed items. To date, they have fed thousands of people and hundreds of families. And now, with help of others, Montana has started a crowd-sourcing effort to fund a non-profit to help other minority-owned businesses to rebuild. As of Wednesday morning, they’ve raised more than $200,000.

• EO 20-72 issued Wed, Jun 3: activating the Minnesota National Guard and declaring a peacetime emergency to provide safety and protection to the people of Clay County and surrounding communities (credible threats have been received). 
• EO 20-71 issued Wed, Jun 3: extending the temporary nighttime curfew in Minneapolis and Saint Paul.  
• EO 20-70 issued Tues, Jun 2: authorizing use of state right-of-way for outdoor dining during the COVID-19 peacetime emergency. 
•  EO 20-69 issued Mon, Jun 1: extending the temporary nighttime curfew in Minneapolis and Saint Paul.

• DEED:
• Moving quickly around displaced workers.
• The timing of Phase 3 in the reopening process will be made available within the next few days.
• Commerce:
• Dealing with questions regarding insurance claims/process. In general, effects of civil unrest are covered by insurance. But not always. Details and links are below.
• Also questions about who will bear the burden of testing in the long run. Conversations underway to determine this.
• Revenue:
• Regarding Treasury Coronavirus Relief Fund, from the federal government directly to states: Ramsey and Hennepin counties both got direct allocations, which are being used for business relief. The state is working with Legislature on guidelines/formula for distribution to the remaining 85 counties in the state.
• DLI:
• MN law prohibits employers from asking employees to sign away their rights to file claims due to COVID-19 impacts. Covered under workers comp statute.
• OSHA compliance questions are largely being resolved with communication and education. Seeing a willingness on the part of employers to protect safety and health of employees and customers.

• Curfew in Saint Paul and Minneapolis extended for Wednesday and Thursday, 10pm – 4am.
• Wednesday afternoon, George Floyd's family visited the memorial site at 38th and Lake St. Governor Walz went to the site as well, to pay his respects: "I don't think we get another chance to fix this…"
• Officer Chauvin now charged with 2d Degree Felony Murder.
• Officers now in custody: J Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane, Tou Thao. They are charged with aiding and abetting second degree murder and aiding and abetting second degree manslaughter.
• AG Ellison remains as the lead prosecutor. One goal: justice for George Floyd.
• Ellison assured public pressure did not impact charges. Based on facts gathered and the law that applies.

• Wednesday Night Update from EOC: – Director Schute stated there were demonstrators at the Silent Service of Lament with 40 people, taking place near W 7^th Street and View. In the Press Conference today, Commissioner Harrington shared that incidents of vehicles with no plates should be called to non-emergency lines 651-291-1111; anything with fires, bricks, immediate harm, etc. should of course go to 911.

• The initial damage estimates have been received and they are tracking at:
• $1.13 million for the City of Saint Paul:
•  $7.1 million for Ramsey County;
•  $5.6 million for Hennepin County
•  $2.2 million for City of Minneapolis

• Metro Transit resumes bus service, light-rail service resumes on Thursday

• In Minneapolis, a quiet army of generosity gains strength From MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE, June 3: The business community, in particular, has felt that painful need. More than 46,000 Minnesotans responded, donating more than $3.8 million to date to the Lake Street Council to distribute to business owners whose livelihoods were damaged or destroyed.

• Lloyd’s Pharmacy in St. Paul’s Hamline-Midway neighborhood has a loyal clientele, to put it mildly. When news broke last Thursday night that the neighborhood’s pharmacy at Snelling and Minnehaha had been looted and destroyed during a riot, hundreds of customers began reaching out. They called. They stopped by with flowers. They left notes. They organized a fundraising campaign. As of Tuesday, they had raised more than $63,000. They are planning to rebuild.

• Businesses damaged in Minneapolis, St. Paul after riots. From MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE: As of Wednesday, more than 360 businesses across the Twin Cities had been vandalized, looted or had doors and windows smashed. Some have been reduced to rubble, and at least 66 have been destroyed completely by fire. Others have reported extensive water damage or severe fire damage.

• COVID-19 Resources in Ramsey County
• Pay It Forward: connect for technical assistance support www.saintpaulchamber.com/payitforward
• Small Business Relief Fund: application period extended to June 12 https://www.ramseycountymeansbusiness.com/relief-fund
• Access to food:
• Ramsey County: Many free meal and food assistance programs are available in Ramsey County. Use the County’s interactive map to find programs near you, including food shelves, community gardens, farmers markets, grocery stores and delivery services. 
• City of Saint Paul: The City of Saint Paul is partnering with Youthprise, Arts-Us, and the Sanneh Foundation to provide free meal service to Saint Paul families in need. Families with a minor child in the home will be eligible to pick up one meal bag per child per week. Each meal bag contains 7 dinner meals and 7 snacks including fresh fruits and vegetables, juice, a variety of sandwiches, crackers, cheese, milk, and more. Schedule subject to change, visit Saint Paul Parks and Recreation page for the most updated information.

• COVID-19 Relief in Hennepin County - via press release from Hennepin County: “The board authorized an additional $10 million of federal CARES Act funding to support small businesses. The county has already authorized more than $15 million of funding to support small and self-employed businesses, bringing the total to $25 million of assistance. The Hennepin County Small Business Relief Program received 2,290 applications representing 36 cities. A total of 1,056 applications were selected via randomized lottery for funding consideration. This additional funding is expected to support the remaining eligible businesses. The deadline for self-employed entrepreneurs has been extended to Friday, June 5.”

• Travelers now strongly encouraged to wear a facial covering at the MSP Airport From MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL BUSINESS JOURNAL: “Consistent with the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Minnesota Department of Health, I highly recommend that everyone wear face coverings while at any MAC airport,” wrote MAC Executive Director and CEO Brian Ryks in a letter in a letter to travelers.

• INSURANCE: via news release from The Insurance Federation of Minnesota: “The events of the last week in Minnesota have been very unsettling for residents and business owners. Scenes of civil unrest, rioting and looting have many on edge. Rebuilding areas that have been damaged or destroyed will take time and money. But in many cases, insurance will help with financial recovery. Most standard insurance policies for business owners, homeowners and vehicle owners do provide coverage for losses related to civil unrest so policyholders should take action soon to start the claims process. If you or your business has been affected by the damage from the recent events, the following tips will help the claims process go more smoothly:
• CAREFULLY make temporary accommodations to prevent further damage but do not risk injury to yourself or others in doing so.
• Document with photos, videos and notes the extent of the damage and your losses.
• Having access to business records is helpful in claims processing.
• Contact your insurance agent or insurers’ claims hotline as soon as possible.
• Keep receipts of whatever you might spend on cleanup, temporary repair or emergency expenses. In many cases, these costs are reimbursable.
• Auto claims for damage due to civil unrest is available if the policyholder purchased the optional comprehensive coverage, which is widely available.

• At the end of last week the Department of Commerce sent out insurance tips for business or residential property owners that may have sustained damage or loss from the destructive events from last week. Here are the links:
• English: Business | Residential

• Spanish: Business | Residential

• Hmong: Business | Residential

• Somali: Business | Residential

• Legislature - Minnesota Legislature likely to have in Special Session on June 12