MOWER COUNTY EXECUTIVE ORDER 20-99 BUSINESS RELIEF PROGRAM

Grant Information

In recent state action, Mower County was awarded $791,868.66 in COVID-19 related relief funds to allocate to local private businesses impacted by the State of Minnesota Executive Order 20-99. which went into effect November 20, 2020. 
 
Mower County has established this business support grant program to distribute the funds and contracted with the Development Corporation of Austin to administer this program.
 
The program priority is relief for restaurants, bars, gyms, and other similar businesses who have been partially or fully closed – as a result of EO 20-99, Section 7. 

Also, businesses indirectly impacted by EO 20-99 are eligible. This is defined as a business that primarily provides sales of goods and services to businesses that were directly closed as a result of EO 20-99, are also eligible to apply for this program, including lodging businesses. 

Grant amounts will range from $5,000 to $25,000 based on gross profit, percentage of loss and available funding. 

Priority will be given to businesses with a 30% or more decrease in gross revenue (sales) when comparing Quarter 4 (October through December) of 2019 to Quarter 4 2020. Businesses with less than a 30% decrease will be considered if funding allows.
 
Eligible expenses include but are not limited to: operating expenses such as payroll obligations, rent payments, mortgage payments, utility bills, insurance, payments to suppliers, and other similar expenses that occur in the regular course of business. Property tax is an eligible expense.
 

These grants are income subject to federal and state taxes. Funds may also be subject to a Federal single audit. A completed IRS Form W-9 is required of all applicants.


Eligibility  Businesses must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible:

  • Are located in Mower County.
  • Business must have no current tax liens on record with the secretary of state as of the time of application for a grant under this section; and
  • Business must demonstrate they were financially impacted by Executive Order 20-99 which means:           

  1.   Were closed by any order or;          
  2.   Have evidence of being impacted by sales or revenue decline.

Certain businesses are ineligible, including:
  • Businesses not directly or indirectly impacted by Executive Order 20-99 or other Governor Walz issued executive orders.
  • Businesses with a tax lien on record with the secretary of state.
  • Corporate chains, multi-state chains that are not owned by someone who resides in Mower County or an adjacent county.
  • Businesses that derive income from passive investments; business-to-business transactions; real estate transactions; property rentals or property management; billboards; or lobbying.
  • Businesses that primarily derive income from gambling.
  • Businesses that derive any income from adult entertainment.
  • Law firms, insurance agencies, sole proprietor working out of someone else’s business, and agriculture.

Application Process and Timeline  Applications will be accepted beginning Monday, January 18, 2021 at 8 am through Monday, February 15, 2021 at 5 pm. Late applications will be reviewed only if grant funds remain available after all on time applications are processed.

Applications are preferred to be completed via the online link at www.austindca.org. To request to have an application mailed or emailed to you, email us at cares@austindca.org. or call 507-433-9495.


What's on the application? You can check it out HERE and come back to the application when you are ready to apply.


Confirmation  A confirmation email from Mower County Grant (cares@austindca.org) will be sent to the email address you provide within 24 hours of submittal. If you do not see a confirmation within 24 hours of submittal, first check your spam or junk mail folders. If you still don’t see a confirmation within 24 hours of submittal, email cares@austindca.org or call 507-433-9495 to confirm that your application was received.