Frequently Asked Questions

The U.S. Department of Treasury, as authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, established a $150 billion relief fund to aid states, local, and tribal governments with populations over 500,000 people in their efforts to respond to the nationwide public health emergency caused by the coronavirus pandemic and COVID-19 outbreak. Funding has been allocated from Treasury to the State of Minnesota, and, in turn, the City of Arden Hills as pass-through funds. Based on eligibility, small businesses physically located within the City of Arden Hills are eligible to apply for funding.

In order to apply, businesses must meet the following criteria:

• Must have a physical location within Arden Hills.
• Must be in good standing with the City of Arden Hills and Minnesota Secretary of State.
• If required by either the state, county, or city, must be licensed and in good standing.
• Must be current on property taxes as of March 1, 2020.
• Must have between 3 and 45 employees, including the owner, as of March 2020.
• Business directly impacted by COVID-19.
• Must disclose all federal, state, or local grant or loan applications for which applicant has applied which has been received or remain pending at the time of application.
• Must certify in good faith that the uncertainty of current conditions makes the grant request necessary to support ongoing operations.
• Business directly impacted by Minnesota Governor‘s Emergency Executive Orders 20-04 and 20-08.
• Business shall be registered with the City’s Business Registration program.

Ineligible businesses include:

• Businesses that do not have a physical address within the City.
• Businesses that derive income from passive investments without operational ties to operating businesses within the City; real estate transactions; property rentals or property management. 
• Businesses that primarily focus in on speculative activities based on fluctuations in price rather than the normal course of trade.
• Businesses that primarily generate income from gambling activities.
• Businesses that engage in activities prohibited by law.
• Businesses that have no current or historical financial statements.
• Businesses that earn revenue from pyramid schemes, lending services and/or day trading/short term investments.
• Businesses that previously received emergency funds from the city during the current round of funding.

Businesses must have had at least three employees prior to March 2020 in order to be eligible for the City of Arden Hills Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program. For the purpose of this grant program, the business must have less than 45 employees.

Businesses must have a physical location in the City of Arden Hills. The City of Arden Hills will use legal documents to verify addresses of businesses that apply for this grant.

Yes. Businesses must have had at least three (3) employees as of March 2020 in order to be eligible for the City of Arden Hills small business emergency assistance grant program.

Businesses that employ between 3 and 45 employees are eligible to apply.

You are eligible to apply for this grant if the location(s) of your businesses located within the City of Arden Hills employ between 3 and 45 employees.

Arden Hills’s small business emergency assistance grant program provides funding to assist small businesses facing financial hardship and/or business interruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic with financial assistance for necessary expenditures. Eligible expenses include:  

• Commercial lease or mortgage payments (not mortgage prepayments or property taxes) for business properties.
• Accounts payable (AP) if the AP is a COVID-19 related expense incurred since March 1, 2020.
• Payroll, unless the business received Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds or pandemic unemployment insurance (UI) to cover the same period payroll expenses.
• Reopening costs or safety improvement costs expended since March 1, 2020 (i.e. outdoor seating, plexiglass, cleaning products, re-staffing costs, etc.).
• Costs associated with screening employees for COVID-19 upon business reopening.

Grants will not exceed $5,000 to cover eligible expenses incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic after March 1, 2020.  If a second round of funding is approved, a business may be eligible to receive more than the $5,000 cap.

Ineligible expenses include the following

• Lobbying for any purpose.
• Certain taxes and fees including those that are considered revenue for federal, state, or local governments.
• Replacement of lost revenue.
• Line of credit to purchase supplies/equipment.

Yes. Please see IRS guidance. The City of Arden Hills will be responsible for issuing a 1099 for tax reporting purposes.

Applications will reviewed on a first-come, first considered/awarded basis. Awards will be made to applicants that submit a complete application and meet the minimum program criteria. Please note that not all applicants will be funded.

The City of Arden Hills intends to review and approve awards for several weeks after the application period closes.