Post Date: 08/17/2020 9:00 am
MOORHEAD, MN (August 17, 2020) - The Moorhead CARES Small Business Relief Grant Program is officially launched and now open for applications. The Moorhead City Council approved the use of $2 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding for the development of the Moorhead CARES Small Business Relief Grant Program. Mayor Judd notes, "The City of Moorhead values all of our businesses, non-profits and community organizations. The Moorhead CARES program will help these entities deal with the difficult financial impacts resulting from COVID-19. It is important that our businesses are supported, not only because they provide jobs to dedicated employees, but also because they are essential to Moorhead's character and quality of life by the products and services they provide for our residents."
The grant program offers grants of up to $10,000 to small businesses and community organizations with 20 or fewer employees, and up to $3,000 for eligible sole proprietors. While there are other federal and state programs addressing COVID-19 impacts, some of them left out non-profits, very new businesses, or those whose owners live out of state, which doesn't work well in our metro area. Acting City Manager Dan Mahli said, “We want to reach start-ups and entrepreneurs with these resources, as well as long-time Moorhead business owners. All are welcome to help steer the future toward the city we want to live in.”
Full program details and an on-line application are available at Moorheadcares.com. The application opened at 9 am on August 17 and closes at midnight August 31. Applications are not first-come, first-served, and will not be distributed by a lottery system. Downtown Moorhead Inc. President, Derrick LaPoint stresses, "We want to have robust communication of this important opportunity to ensure our business owners hear about it within the two week application period."
Media inquiries: Derrick LaPoint, 218.443.1361
Moorhead CARES Small Business Relief Grant Program questions: Moorheadcares@cityofmoorhead.com
PO Box 612, Moorhead, MN 56561
