COVID-19: New Guidelines
Current Data:
  • Covid 19 Case positivity in MN is coming down
  • MN Covid Deaths remaining high, hope they will come down with lag time to case positivity
  • Minnesota is still in the red zone on White House Coronavirus Task Force map
  • Minnesota still considered a global hotspot for Coronavirus
  • What causes spread: people indoors & close proximity & without facemasks
New Guidelines December 19 and Beyond
Goals of new guidance:
  • Facilitate getting elementary students back to school January 18th
  • Improve quality of life for Minnesotans
COVID-19: Busienss Relief News
Business Relief This Week
The Burnsville Chamber is strongly advocating for relief for businesses experiencing shutdowns due to Executive Order 20-99. The Dakota County Board and MN Legislature both approved Covid Relief Assistance Packages. We are still waiting for Congress to act on a Federal package.

Dakota County Relief resolution approved 12-15

Minnesota Relief Package Approved 12-15

  • Business Relief Payments: $88 million
  • $88 million will be distributed in grants to “qualified businesses” which were closed to the general public through Executive Order 20-99 (attached) – the most recent order closing certain businesses. These businesses include restaurants, bars, breweries, distilleries, wineries, fitness and recreational sports centers, bowling centers, and specialty food stores. Businesses must show a 30% decline in sales for the year, have a physical presence in Minnesota and meet other qualifications listed in the bill. If qualified, the Minnesota Department of Revenue will distribute grants to businesses ranging from $10,000 to a maximum of $45,000. 
  • Movie Theater and Convention Center Grants: $14 million
  • $9 million will be distributed in grants to movie theaters with indoor seating and $5 million will be distributed to with regional or statewide significance and a capacity of 1,500 or more. These grants must be used for the direct operations and upkeep of convention center facilities.
  • County Relief Grants to Local Businesses: $114.8 million
  • Funds will be distributed to all 87 counties on a per capita basis and the county will provide relief grants to local businesses. The intention of this grant fund is to give flexibility to counties to make grants to individual businesses and nonprofits that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and business closures, but may not have met the strict guidelines in the previous grant categories.   
  • Unemployment Insurance Benefits Extension
  • Extends unemployment benefits for an additional 13 weeks to April 20, 2021. Over 112,000 Minnesotans will be impacted by this provision.
  • Regulatory Relief
  • Several regulatory relief provisions are included in the bill including waiver of the caterer’s permit fees, permit fees for sales after 1:00 a.m., refund of the wastewater permit fees for brewers, and waiver of late fees for license renewals by food retailers, food manufacturers, food wholesalers, and food brokers.
  • Free and Reduced-Price Lunch Deadline Extension
  • The bill grants an extension of the deadline for school districts to report the number of pupils enrolled in the free or reduced-price lunch program.

US Relief Package Discussions
The Dakota County and Minnesota relief package are only a bandaids to provide short term relief. Businesses and their employees need federal relief in order to stay in business and pay their bills. Congress is considering an aid package that will provide aid to businesses and they need to act this week before they adjourn for the holiday break.

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD
If your business is experiencing closure due to Executive Order 20-99, please reach out to your representatives before Tuesday. Make sure they understand the impact and need for immediate relief. Click Who Represents Me to find your State and Federal representatives and their contact information. Both State and Federal representatives need to hear how you, your business and your employees are being impacted.

#EndThe Pause Campaign
The Burnsville Chamber is a partner in the MN Ready Coalition. We believe that Burnsville businesses have the protocols to open safely and we are advocating in favor of the #EndThe Pause effort.

MN Ready Coalition Message: Minnesota businesses are #MNReady to reopen their doors while keeping customers and employees safe. We need to keep businesses afloat and allow employees to earn a living NOW. We urge Governor Walz to #EndThePause.

We expect the Governor to make his announcement on Wednesday and we encourage you to make your voice heard. Join us in sharing this message on social media HERE
COVID-19: ICYMI
Highlights from December Small Business Sounding Board
In addition to public health and relief updates, the feedback from Burnsville businesses continues to reflect the impact of COVID-19 on our community.  

Overview of what we learned from businesses:
  • Businesses that center on in-person gathering including restaurants, fitness, entertainment, recreation and hospitality continue to be down in revenue anywhere from 50 - 90% depending on their ability to pivot to virtual, take out and delivery services. This is not sustainable and the lost revenue cannot be replaced. Assistance will be necessary for the businesses impacted by shutdowns to survive.
  • Professional services are impacted by a decline in business because they serve businesses impacted by COVID shutdowns.
  • Any business that has employees dealing with distance learning is impacted by employee stress, distraction and performance issues.
  • Retail stores have seen some improvement in traffic over summer and fall, but the recent shutdown slowed things down.
  • There is frustration and concern about the constant change in guidelines for PPP and other CARES grant funds. In particular, taxation of these funds will hit especially hard for businesses that are just trying to hang on.
  • Businesses have developed strong safety protocols and are ready to re-open next week safely.  

The Chamber, City, elected and appointed officials expressed their commitment to business relief and safe re-opening.

Public health update from Dakota County:

For Dakota County health questions, call 952-891-7834 (10 a.m. - 4 p.m.).
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