GREAT NEWS:
**COVID RELIEF FOR NONPROFIT ARTS**
PASSED AT THE STATE LEVEL

MINNESOTA STATE SUPPORT FOR ARTS NONPROFITS

Through the work of MCA lobbyist Larry Redmond, the Covid relief bill passed last week by the state legislature and signed by the Governor includes language that makes it clear that the relief that will be granted out by the state’s 87 counties should include:

Full requirements can be found here: https://mn.gov/deed/government/financial-assistance/relief/Here’s how much each county is getting for grants to nonprofits and businesses: https://mn.gov/deed/assets/County%20Relief%20Grants_tcm1045-460976.pdf

We recommend that you take these three steps to urge your county to use of these funds as intended, and then to track closely as they set up a process to grant the money so you can apply:

1. Identify your county commissioner district by using the MN Secretary of State pollfinder (You can find your district number in the box titled “Districts for this address” right below MN House):  http://pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us/

2. Go to your county commissioner webpage and find your commissioner and contact information. MCA has created a website list for every county commissioner: http://artsmn.org/list-of-mn-county-commissioners/

3. Acting as an organization or individual, call/write an email to your County Commissioner asking them to remember to include grants for arts nonprofits as is stated in the original bill. Here are some talking points:

• “Please remember to include grant funding for arts nonprofits in our county as the Legislature intended.”
• “Because they are in the business of bringing people together, arts organizations were the first to close and most likely will be the last to open due the ongoing pandemic and COVID restrictions.” (You can get more facts about how Covid has affected the arts in MN here https://minnesotareformer.com/2020/08/14/minnesotas-vibrant-creative-community-is-in-crisis/). If you have a story about how Covid restrictions have affected your nonprofit, tell it!
• We all know that arts organizations are an economic driver in the county when open and right now they need your help to survive until their doors are able to open again. (For facts and figures about the arts in MN, check out [http://www.Creative MN.org]www.Creative MN.org).
• I would also include the actual bill language: In lines 10.10-10.13:
  • “Nonprofits, nonprofit artsorganizations, nonprofit museums, and nonprofit fitness centers that earn revenue similar to businesses, including but not limited to ticket sales and membership fees, are eligible for grants under this section.”