St. Paul accepting applications for emergency relief through April 19
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Wednesday, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter announced St. Paul Bridge Fund applications opened through April 19 at 5 p.m.
The fund provides access to emergency relief for businesses and families amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The city said the applications can be submitted online, and all applications will be reviewed and put into a lottery system for selection. No preference will be given to those selected.
The applications are free and the grants won’t need to be repaid. Grants to families will be $1,000 for rent or mortgage payments while business grants will be $7,500 for immediate expenses.
Eligibility requirements for families are as follows:
- Live in Saint Paul;
- Have incomes at or below 40% of area median income (or $40,000 annually for a family of four) before a COVID-19-related change in employment;
- Have at least one minor child in the household;
- Have experienced a significant loss of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Are not currently receiving ongoing housing assistance such as Section 8 or Public Housing assistance.
Eligibility requirements for businesses are as follows:
- A physical location within Saint Paul, in operation for at least the last three months;
- Gross annual revenues of $2 million or less; and
- Documentation that revenues have been significantly impacted by COVID-19 pandemic.
The fund has $3.25 million from St. Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority. The following organizations also contributed money to the fund, bringing its total to $3.85 million:
- John S. and James L. Knight Foundation – $400,000
- Ecolab Foundation – $50,000
- Securian Foundation – $50,000
- Minnesota United FC – $25,000
- Minnesota Wild – $25,000
- Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation – $25,000
- Xcel Energy – $25,000