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Hennepin County HRA sets up $2.19M small‑business recovery fund for businesses hit by Operation Metro Surge
Summary
The Housing & Redevelopment Authority authorized about $2.19 million to create a Small Business Recovery Fund that will provide grants up to $10,000 to brick‑and‑mortar businesses affected by recent enforcement events; applications will be opened quickly with outreach and multilingual materials.
The Hennepin County Housing & Redevelopment Authority on March 10 authorized roughly $2.19 million to establish a Small Business Recovery Fund to help brick‑and‑mortar businesses that suffered revenue losses during Operation Metro Surge.
Patricia Fitzgerald of Housing & Economic Development said grants of up to $10,000 will be available to businesses with storefronts that can demonstrate revenue loss during the event, with outreach materials in five languages and assistance to complete applications. The program will be administered by a local community‑based lender; funding will be drawn from existing HRA resources including loan repayment proceeds and planned transit‑oriented communities allocations.
Fitzgerald said staff aim to publish program guidelines and open applications within about a week to get funds rapidly into businesses’ hands. Commissioners praised the speed and compared the approach to COVID-era recovery programs; several asked that staff track administrative costs, application data by geography and the program’s outreach effectiveness.
The board approved the appropriation; HRA staff said they will report back on application volume and distribution, and that eligible applicants must be operating physical storefronts and document revenue loss during the covered period.
