Intending to reduce the burden put on businesses and workers most hurt by the four-week state shutdown of bars, restaurants, and gyms, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz unveiled several proposals in a morning press conference held on Tuesday, November 24.
The Governor made his announcement from a Saint Paul restaurant.
Highlights of the Governor’s COVID-19 economic relief package aim to keep businesses afloat, support workers who are struggling to get by, and help families keep food on their table.
Below is a portion of the Governor’s Tuesday press release.
“Our small businesses and the Minnesotans whose livelihoods depend on them are bearing a huge weight for the good of their entire community,” said Governor Waltz. “As cases skyrocket and hospital capacity is pushed to the brink, our small businesses should not have to bear the financial consequences alone. We’re in this together,” said Governor Walz. “I am committed to turning over every stone to find funding that will help make sure our businesses stay afloat, our workers are supported, and our families can put food on the table.”
“In the restaurant industry, we are all too familiar with 90-hour work weeks,” said Janessa Casper and Mike Runyon, co-owners of The Nook in Saint Paul. “We know what it’s like to wake up and head into work feeling like you just went to bed two minutes ago. And we’re not out here saving lives! We understand the urgent need to support our health care workers and protect hospital capacity right now. But as we know, the hospitality industry is drowning. There’s no stimulus money or extra unemployment for our staff. We are in desperate need for our govern- ments to step in and help during these restrictions.”
“We know the vast majority of our small businesses are doing the right thing,” said Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan. “And these restrictions are hard. But they are necessary to save lives. That’s why we need to come together to provide aid that will support Minnesotans and our small businesses as we weather this surge in cases and hospitalizations.”
The Governor will continue to work with agencies, stakeholders, and legislators on additional measures to help Minnesotans and our economy.
“COVID-19 has brought unprecedented challenges to Minnesotans and businesses, and we need to help them now,” said Department of Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Steve Grove. “Today’s package, crafted in response to requests from industry leaders and others, provides solid support to help businesses through this time and support Minnesota workers affected by the pandemic.”
The COVID-19 relief package includes critical measures to:
Keep Small Businesses Afloat
o Provide direct aid to businesses through the Business Assistance Program. o Waive state and regulatory fees for bars, restaurants, event centers, craft breweries, and more. o Establish an eviction moratorium so small businesses can stay in their locations.
Support Workers Struggling to Get By
o Extend unemployment benefits for an additional 13 weeks, helping as many as 100,000 workers whose benefits currently end in late December. o Provide a $500 onetime emergency payment to struggling families.
Help Minnesota Families Put Food on the Table
o Establish a one-time grant to restaurants to provide food for healthcare workers, homeless shelters, and long-term care facilities. o Provide a tax credit for businesses that donate food that would otherwise spoil or be thrown away.
Meanwhile, Minnesota House Republicans also unveiled a COVID-19 relief plan on Tuesday. Called the Main Street Relief Act, the Republican plan includes $400 million in direct grants taken from the state’s budget reserve. Those dollars would provide immediate assistance to businesses affected by this latest shutdown.
Also included is a proposal for a threemonth sales tax holiday for businesses closed by the Governor’s executive orders and rebates on state licensing fees for establishments that sell alcohol until 2 a.m. Under this proposal, breweries would also be allowed to sell takeout containers up to 64 ounces. Republicans are calling for a temporary expansion of the current cap on takeout beer, wine and liquor sales.
Republicans also cite COVID-19 contact tracing data; they say that does not support gyms and fitness centers’ closure and are calling on the Governor to reopen them before December 18.
Once the two parties can agree, the Governor will call a special session to pass the legislation. He tweeted on Tuesday that “as soon as we have a deal,” he will sign the legislation and put it into immediate action.
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