06-16-2020 EDC Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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EDC Minutes June, 16, 2020 Page 2 of 4 ----------------------------- Commissioner Becklin verified Xcel Energy's cost per acre is $45,000. Commissioner Lelwica asked where the money for WSN to help with the BDPI grant is coming from and Ms. Duus stated the funding will be taken from the Business Park Fund. 5. Business Relief Considerations Commissioner Becklin stated that he is looking for ideas on how to help the businesses in Pequot Lakes and asked if anyone had any ideas or thoughts. Ms. Duus informed the EDC Commission that the City Council offered some incentives to residents and businesses. She stated that in May and June they approved a two thirds reduction in businesses liquor licenses. She said that Crow Wing County had done something similar with their liquor licenses. The Council waived water and sewer late fees from March to June. Crow Wing County is offering a relief program to residents and businesses affected by COVID-19 to pay property taxes by July 15, 2020. Ms. Duus also stated that there are reference links on the City website for state programs or services to help businesses with loans or grants. She also stated that there is the Lakes Country Cares Website that contains a lot of resources for businesses. Vice Chair Rieck stated the Initiative Foundation has a website that could be usefut and she saw a grant called Hello Alice Emergency COVID-19 Grant which is for$10,000. She said if she remembers right it was leaning towards women owned businesses and minority businesses. She stated according to the article in the Her Voice Magazine Pequot Lakes has a lot of female owned businesses in town that could possibly qualify. Tyler Glynn said if the Commission has some additional people looking for resources they can get in touch with him. He stated BLAEDC has access to information on grants that are sitting out there. He stated that some of them are a little tough to find and with some of them the money runs out very quickly when the grant becomes available. Mr. Glynn stated another thing to potentially consider is if the CARES money comes through to the County and to the Cities, there will be additional funds that will be dispersed that only can be used for COVID-19 responses. 6. School Update No update was given. 7. Chamber Update Katie Wassermann stated the Chambers official press release was sent out to the media June 15, 2020 that they are moving forward with summer events in an adapted and a social distancing friendly way that follows the state guidelines. She said they eliminated all the Chamber planned activities, such as the parade and high touch activities like the corn hole tournament, bouncy houses, and a rock climbing wall. Ms. Wassermann stated there will still be fireworks, bands in