The Caledonia EDA is now accepting applications from businesses and non-profit organizations (501(c)(3)s) for the Caledonia EDA COVID-19 Relief Grant. As many of you are probably aware, the City of Caledonia received funds from the federal government through the CARES Act to reimburse the City for expenses incurred responding to COVID-19. The Caledonia City Council allocated $100,000 of its CARES Act funds—which is almost 50% of the City’s CARES Act funding—to the Caledonia EDA to assist Caledonia businesses and non-profit organizations (501(c)(3)s) that have been impacted by COVID-19. The Caledonia EDA COVID-19 Relief Grant provides funding to Caledonia businesses and non-profit organizations to partially reimburse them for their COVID-19 expenses, including the costs of business interruption due to mandatory state shutdowns, restrictions, lack of business, or lost revenue during the period March 1, 2020 through November 15, 2020.
Applications for the Caledonia EDA COVID-19 Relief Grant are due September 2, 2020. Grant awards will be made in mid-September once applications have been reviewed by the Caledonia EDA Board of Commissioners. If there are excess funds after the first review, the Caledonia EDA will offer a second round of grant awards in October.
Please be advised that the Houston County EDA is also offering a grant program using CARES Act funds, but there are some key differences between the Caledonia and Houston County programs. The Houston County EDA is awarding funds on a first-come, first-served basis, whereas the Caledonia EDA will be reviewing applications at one time to give all applicants an equal chance at funds and to help the Caledonia EDA assess the overall community need. Another difference between the Caledonia and Houston County grant programs is that the Caledonia program is available to businesses and non-profit organizations (501(c)(3)), whereas the Houston County EDA grant is limited to for-profit businesses. Another key difference is that the Caledonia grant program is open to all businesses in Caledonia, whereas the Houston County EDA grant program is limited to small businesses. Please note that you may apply for funding from both the Caledonia EDA COVID-19 Relief Grant and the Houston County Cares Act Business Grant, but you cannot receive funds from both grants for the same expenses.
If you are interested in applying for a Caledonia EDA COVID-19 Relief Grant, please download the application below and either email it to cityhall@caledoniamn.gov or return it to City Hall.