Cares Funding

St. Louis County CARES Act Community Assistance funds are being utilized to support community organizations who serve members of our community who are disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency. 

These organizations include, but are not limited to, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, schools, community based services, mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) services, and those that provide services to individuals housed in our board and lodges and/or connected to our housing programs.
The intent is to strengthen organizations in our core human service areas that have been (and continue to be) particularly impacted by this emergency as they modify services so that they can continue to meet the needs of the most vulnerable in our communities.

CARES Act funds are to be used to cover COVID-19 related costs for organizations serving priority settings and populations, in accordance with MDH priorities, with funding levels based on the number of people served.

St. Louis County has awarded:

$1.8 million to 12 school districts and two charter schools

$2.8 million to community organizations

QUESTIONS

St. Louis County has been utilizing two funding sources to help people who are behind in rent, mortgage, and utilities due to COVID-19.

COVID19 Housing Assistance Program (CHAP)
MN Housing awarded St. Louis County $3.2 million in CHAP funding to assist households impacted by COVID-19. The deadline to apply is December 7, 2020.

Households in public housing, Section 8, Bridges and other subsidized housing programs are not eligible for CHAP funding. If you do not live in subsidized housing (e.g. section 8 voucher, rent is determined by income), apply now for CHAP funding here:  https://housinghelpmn.org/  

For questions or assistance with CHAP application, call 2-1-1.

CARES Individual Assistance
The application period for CARES Individual Assistance has ended. St. Louis County was able to use CARES Act funds to meet the emergency needs of eligible individuals and families who are residents of St. Louis County. A total of $89,254.45 was distributed to landlords, mortgage companies, utility companies, licensed repair person, etc. on behalf of the eligible individuals/families who applied. 

For more information on eligible expenses:

  Small Business Relief Grants Available

The State of Minnesota has provided St. Louis County with approximately $3.8 million to assist county businesses and non-profits that were adversely affected by the COVID pandemic. These funds will be distributed as part of Phase 3 of county assistance to local businesses and non-profits.

Phase 3: Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grants

Phase 3 grant assistance will  provide economic relief to eligible businesses and non-profits adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Application Period: Tuesday, January 19, 2021 (9:00 am) - Wednesday, February 3, 2021 (4:30 pm). No late applications will be accepted.

Program Guidelines
Apply Online 
Paper Application*

* The paper application is a fillable PDF. Please download, fill out, save and send to options on application.

Phase 3 Video Instructions 

Previous St. Louis County Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grants

The St. Louis County Board of Commissioners approved $6 million in Small Business COVID Relief Grants which will be distributed in two (2) phases to qualifying businesses adversely impacted by and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Click to Show Recipients

Phase 2: Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grants (Closed) 

Click to Show Recipients

E-Subscribe to Small Business COVID-19 Relief Program News 

Questions