COVID-19 Business Grant Program Begins in Osseo
Osseo will extend a helping hand to businesses impacted financially by the COVID-19 outbreak. The city joins neighboring municipalities like Plymouth and Maple Grove in offering economic assistance to businesses.
Osseo initially set aside just over $125,000 to be given out in $3,000 grants to eligible businesses. The city expected up to 30 businesses to apply, but ended up with at least 43.
As a result, on Aug. 10, the city council formally approved increasing the amount allotted to just under $150,000 so more businesses can receive grants. All of the money comes from federal CARES Act funding meant is meant to help cover expenses from the pandemic.
City Administrator and EDA Executive Director Riley Grams says he’s delighted by the response to the grants. He says more businesses in Osseo are more likely to survive the economic hardships brought about by the virus because of the funding.
“I think it’s vitally important to a lot of our smaller businesses,” said Grams. “Everyone I’ve heard from, the applicants, they’re very grateful.”
How the COVID-19 Grant Application Process Works
The applications go into a review process where Grams and two other members of the Economic Development Authority make sure the business is eligible and has plans to spend the money on eligible, COVID-19-related expenses. As of Wednesday morning, every application that’s been reviewed has been approved. Grams says that means businesses can breathe a little easier in uncertain economic times.
“Three-thousand dollars may not be a whole lot in the grand scheme of things,” said Grams, “but we’ve had a lot of really small businesses, one to five employees max. This might be two or three months of rent for them, which is something they were really struggling with.”
EDA commission member Teresa Aho agreed, saying “I’m just really glad that so many businesses are taking advantage of this program that we have.”
For full details of Osseo’s program, and an application, click here.
Brandon Bankston, Reporting
