Article by: Rebecca Charles
In September of 2020, the Hayfield EDA was awarded a $10,000 grant from the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) for the purpose of providing micro-grants of $1,000 or less to help offset the additional costs incurred due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Healthy Hayfield Supply Reimbursement Program was developed to provide resources necessary to make doing business in the midst of the pandemic safe for all residents and business owners. CEDA Team Member and Hayfield EDA Coordinator, Rebecca Charles authored the grant to provide funding to the program. This grant funding made it possible to provide grant dollars for 11 local businesses!
Awarded businesses were able to receive reimbursement for personal protective equipment, cleaning supplies, signage and other supplies required to safely conduct business in the midst of a global/national/state/local pandemic. Grants were available to all businesses located within the 55940 zip code. “Being able to maintain small businesses is getting more and more difficult as the digital world continues to expand” says Charles, “yet it is the hard work and perseverance of these same businesses that keep communities thriving. We owe them our loyalty and support through the pandemic for all that they do for residents, and to make our communities unique”.
