The first of what could be several special legislative sessions was held last week and into the weekend. Unfortunately, there was little agreement reached between the Republican-controlled Senate, the DFL-controlled House, and Governor Walz on most of the big-ticket items. As a result, it is likely that another special session will be called soon, possibly […]
Continue reading →This week, the Legislature approved and Governor Walz signed a $60.3 million appropriation for grants for small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with $31.25 million dedicated to small businesses in Greater Minnesota. Today, DEED announced that the application period will open on June 23 and close at 5:00pm on Thursday, July 2 in accordance […]
Continue reading →Passing a robust bonding bill has been the GMNP’s top goal since before the pandemic and we had high hopes that the Legislature would follow through with their promises to get one done. As things stand today, the chances of a bonding bill passing during the special session are slim. During a press conference on […]
Continue reading →One of the first things to happen during the special session was the passage by the House and concurrence by the Senate of a COVID-19 small business relief grant program. Gov. Walz signed the bill into law Tuesday. The bill creates a $62.5 million grant program aimed at providing relief to businesses impacted by the […]
Continue reading →The Legislature is poised to pass a significant bill out of the gate during the special session. Based on information that came out of the Senate Jobs and Economic Development Committee hearing Thursday, the two chambers have reached an agreement on approving $62.5 million in small business emergency grants. These grants would make available up […]
Continue reading →June 15 is the deadline for the state’s third and final round of Peacetime Emergency Childcare Grants. This program was launched as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in Minnesota and Gov. Walz issued executive orders closing portions of the state’s economy, including schools. The grants were targeted both at propping up the child care industry, […]
Continue reading →Governor Walz and DEED Commissioner Steve Grove shared the next phase of reopening Minnesota’s economy beginning on Wednesday, June 10. Below is a description of the new guidelines. General Meeting Limits: Groups of up to 25 people can gather outdoors and up to 10 can gather indoors. A maximum of 250 people total can gather […]
Continue reading →In the final days of the 2020 regular legislative session, the House and Senate were both working on proposals to make funds available for small businesses impacted by the economic shutdown that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, as the session came into its final hours, the two chambers’ bill authors and caucus leaders, along […]
Continue reading →On May 20, Gov. Walz held a press conference to introduce further guidelines for service businesses to re-open on June 1 and provided a look into the future of re-openings. Below is a description of some of the elements of upcoming phases. Phase 2 – June 1 Restaurants and bars: Outdoor dining only, no more […]
Continue reading →One of the top priorities for the GMNP this legislative session was the passage of a robust bonding bill, but the House and Senate failed to come together on an agreement before the Legislature adjourned. A bonding bill requires a three-fifths majority to pass, which this session meant that some members of the DFL minority […]
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