Reopening guidelines
Reopening guidelines from the CDC
Stay Safe guidance for businesses and organizations
Relief packages
The following is a list of current relief packages that small business may use during the Coronavirus outbreak. The Northfield Economic Development Authority (EDA) encourages all to support our impacted businesses directly by using the take-out and delivery options.
Staff is being attentive to the changing business climate, and monitoring federal and state agency relief that may be offered. These programs are being developed and rolled out as quickly as possible.
Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce
We are coordinating with the Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism and will work together to distribute information to the business community during this critical time. We are also coordinating with the Northfield Chamber to understand local business impacts and realize there are immediate impacts and longer-term ones we cannot currently predict.
Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce
Temporary expansion of outdoor dinning area
Interested restaurant and dining establishments must complete an application to extend their service area onto City owned property or right of way. The application must be reviewed and approved by the City before the expansion takes place.
Temporary Expansion of Dinning Area (no liquor) Application
Temporary Expansion of Dinning Area and Liquor Application
Northfield Economic Development Authority (EDA)
Staff continues to examine opportunities for local support. Staff has limited capacities due to assisting with other city services for COVID-19 responses and maintain daily operations. Any ideas for possible assistance can be shared with Economic Development Coordinator Nate Carlson.
Email Nate Carlson
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)
Small Business Emergency Loan Program
The Department of Employment and Economic Development is working with the Governor’s office to receive SBA funding through the disaster declaration from the Federal government. Executive Order 20-15 directs DEED to create a Small Business Emergency Loan Program by making available $30 million from special revenue funds. These dollars will be used by DEED’s lender network to make loans of between $2,500 and $35,000 for qualifying small businesses. The loans will be 50% forgivable, and offered at a 0% interest rate. If other financing becomes available to small businesses that received an emergency loan, such as federal funding, the emergency loan must be repaid. These emergency loans will be made by an existing network of lenders DEED works with across the state.
All potentially impacted businesses should send questions about this emergency loan program to the Emergency Loan Program.
Email Emergency Loan Program
The executive order also allows local units of government or lending partners, which have a revolving loan fund to use those funds, to issue loans to retail and service providers for the next 90 days.
State guidelines for the use of these funds
Email DEED
DEED does have existing programs that may assist with small business through the Emerging Entrepreneur Program or Indian Business Loan Program. DEED gave permission for cities to use their MIF dollars for emergency loans.
More information
News article on emergency declaration
DEED information for workers and employers
Emerging Entrepreneur Loan Program
Indian Business Loan Program
Minnesota Unemployment Insurance (UI)
The state of Minnesota office for Unemployment Insurance offers assistance to employers avoid layoffs. The program offers paid unemployment benefits to offset part of employees reduced wages.
DEED is encouraging all employers impacted by COVID-19 to communicate to their employees that unemployment insurance is available. All employees who are laid off or furloughed should be applying for unemployment insurance. The State of Minnesota Office for unemployment insurance has ensured impacted workers that unemployment insurance is available and flexible for all those impacted. Minnesota Unemployment Insurance also has a shared work program that offers paid unemployment benefits to offset part of employees reduced wages. Eligibility for this program requires that businesses UI Tax Account balance be paid in full, workforce of business cannot be seasonal or temporary, and owner/officer information must be up to date.
Applying for unemployment benefits
Email unemployment insurance questions and inquiries
Unemployment insurance for self-employed people and independent contractors
The CARES Act, that passed Congress, has funds in it to be given to self-employed, independent contractors, and others that would not normally qualify for unemployment insurance. This is known as the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Program. The Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has begun to issue payments to people that qualify for this program.
If you have already applied for regular unemployment benefits, you do not need to do anything extra to qualify for PUA. DEED will automatically establish a PUA benefit account for you if you are eligible.
If you have not applied for unemployment benefits yet, special instructions for self-employed and 1099 workers are available. These instructions include steps you can take to make your account easily identifiable as potentially eligible for PUA.
If you applied for unemployment benefits without following those instructions, don’t worry – you don’t need to change anything. Your account will still be reviewed for PUA eligibility.
If you have not heard from DEED yet, don’t worry. They expect to be in touch with most people who are eligible for benefits under PUA by the end of April 2021. There is no need to call or follow-up; you will hear from them proactively if they need additional information to determine eligibility. You will receive information about PUA benefits in your online account, by email, and by mail. Applicants who receive PUA benefits will also receive the $600 per week additional payment.
PUA benefits will be backdated to whenever you first became eligible due to COVID-19.
COVID-19 information for self-employed people and independent contractors
More information
Shared Work - alternative to layoff
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
Restaurant Revitalization Fund
This program provides emergency assistance for eligible restaurants, bars, and other qualifying businesses impacted by COVID-19.
More information about the Restaurant Revitalization Fund
Apply for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund
Additional resources
SBA disaster loan information
All coronavirus-related federal government resources
DEED’S COVID-19 information and resources for businesses
U.S. Small Business Administration
Sign up for updates from the SBA
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Toolkit
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce put together a resource summary for small business to adhere to during the outbreak.
Resources to help your small business survive the coronavirus