The City of Lonsdale has been allocated $311,005.00 through the CARES Act and by using its allowed discretion to determine what payments are necessary, has allocated funds for grants of up to $3,500.00. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, passed on March 27, 2020, provides 

over $2 trillion in federal economic relief to protect the American people from the public health 

and economic impacts of COVID-19. The CARES Act provides assistance for American workers, families and small businesses and preserves jobs for American industries. We strongly encourage all Lonsdale area businesses and residents that were directly affected by COVID-19 to apply. The City of Lonsdale has created the following criteria:

a.  Reimburse the costs of business interruptions caused by required closings;

b. Reimburse the costs of business interruptions cause by voluntarily closing to prevent the spread 

of COVID-19;

c.  Reimburse businesses that were affected by decreased customer demand;

d. Unemployment insurance costs relating to the COVID-19 public health emergency if such costs will not be reimbursed by the federal government pursuant to the CARES Act or otherwise; and/or

e. Employment and training programs for employees who have been furloughed due to the public health emergency, if the government determines that the costs of such employment and training programs would be necessary due to the public health emergency

f.  Ineligible Applicants include:

i. Lending institutions, law firms, accounting firms, utility companies, chain convenience stores, 

production agriculture, insurance agencies, financial advisors, passive investments and religious 

organizations

g.  In addition to a completed application, applicants must also provide:

i. Income/expense statements for the second quarter of 2019 and the second quarter of 2020;

ii. Documentation of how funds were spent within 60 days following grant dispersal;

iii. A copy of the businesses current filing with the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office; and

iv.  Other items as requested by the City

a. Reimburse non-profits that were affected by a decrease in revenue due to decreased memberships or revenue generating events that were required to be cancelled to prevent the spread of COVID-19

b.  Ineligible Applicants:

i. Religious organizations without a social services component. Only the social services component is eligible

c.  In addition to a completed application, applicants must also provide:

i. Copy of IRS non-profit determination letter;

ii.  The most recent federal 990 tax return filed by the business;

iii. Income/expense statements for the second quarter of 2019 and the second quarter of 2020;

v. Documentation of how funds were spent within 60 days following grant dispersal;

vi. A copy of the businesses current filing with the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office; and

vii.  Other items as requested by the City

a.  assist renter’s with payment of overdue rent to avoid eviction;

b.  assist homeowner’s with mortgage payments to avoid foreclosure;

c. unforeseen financial costs for funerals and other emergency individual needs; and/or

d.  assistance with payment of electrical utility bills

The grants will be made available for completed applications on a first come, first serve basis and 

will be available to Lonsdale businesses, non-profit organizations and residents for the period of 

March 1, 2020 to July 15, 2020. Priority will be given to businesses deemed as “Non- Essential” 

businesses as described in Emergency Executive Order 20-04 – “Providing for Temporary Closure of 

Bars, Restaurants and other Places of Public Accommodation”. The grant application period will be 

open initially for 60 days. If there are still funds available after the first application period, additional application periods will be open until funds are exhausted.

Small Businesses/Non-Profits can apply here.