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Resolution approving the guidelines for the St. Paul Bridge Fund for Families and Small Businesses and allocating $3.3 million of Housing and Redevelopment Authority resources to fund the Saint Paul Bridge Fund to provide emergency relief to small businesses and families in response to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Citywide.
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WHEREAS, the Housing and Redevelopment Authority of the City of Saint Paul, Minnesota (the "HRA") is a public body corporate and politic established pursuant to the provisions of Minnesota Statutes, Section 469.001, et seq. (the “Act”); and
WHEREAS, the HRA has the power to engage in development or redevelopment activities under Minnesota law and the HRA is authorized to engage in activities relating to (a) housing projects and development, (b) removal and prevention of the spread of conditions of blight or deterioration, (c) bringing substandard buildings and improvements into compliance with public standards, (d) disposition of land for private redevelopment, and (e) improving the tax base and the financial stability of the community, and to engage in the aforementioned activities when these needs cannot be met through reliance solely upon private initiative and which can also be undertaken in targeted neighborhoods; and is authorized to create redevelopment projects as defined in Minn Stat Section 469.002, Subd. 14; and
WHEREAS, on January 31, 2020, the United States Department of Health and Human Services Secretary declared a public health emergency for COVID-19, a new strain of coronavirus not previously identified in humans, beginning on January 27, 2020; and
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020 President Donald Trump declared that the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States constitutes a National Emergency; and
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, Governor Tim Walz declared a Peacetime State of Emergency to authorize any and all necessary resources to be used in support of the COVID-19 response; and
WHEREAS, on March 15, 2020, Mayor Melvin Carter III declared a local state of emergency pursuant to Minn. Stat. 12.29;
WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz issued Executive Order 20-04, which ordered certain places of public accommodation closed to ingress, egress, use, and occupancy by members of the public. For the purpose of Executive Order 20-04, “place of public accommodation” means a business, or an educational, refreshment, entertainment, or recreation facility, or an institution of any kind, whether licensed or not, whose goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations are extended, offered, sold, or otherwise made available to the public. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz clarified the definition of public accommodation under Executive Order 20-08 on March 18, 2020.
WHEREAS, on March 25, 2020, Governor Tim Walz issued Executive Order 20-20 which orders all persons currently living within the State of Minnesota to stay at home or in their place of residence except to engage in essential activities or critical sector work;
WHEREAS, on March 25, 2020, Mayor Melvin Carter III presented to the Saint Paul City Council the St. Paul Bridge Fund, a proposed $3.3 million fund to provide emergency relief to small businesses and families in response to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic;
WHEREAS, the Saint Paul Bridge Fund includes a $1 million investment to provide families $1,000 of direct assistance for rent or mortgage payments;
WHEREAS, eligible families will be a renter or homeowner in the City of Saint Paul, have income at or below 40% Area Median Income, which is $40,000 for a family of four, have a minor child present in the household, and have experienced a loss of income due to COVID-19;
WHEREAS, the Saint Paul Bridge Fund includes a $2.25 million investment to provide $7,500 grants for immediate business expenses, including but not limited to rent/mortgage payments, employee health benefits, leave payments and payroll, and accounts payables.
WHEREAS, eligible small business will have 20 or fewer employees, will have a gross revenue of less than $2 million, been in operation for the last six at least three months in Saint Paul, and had their revenues significantly impacted COVID-19.
WHEREAS, the Saint Paul Bridge Fund is also supported by private donations through a donor fund established by the Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation.
WHEREAS, by this Resolution the HRA finds a public purpose for the funding of the St. Paul Bridge Fund to provide emergency relief to small businesses and families impacted by the COVID-19 crisis;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority of the City of Saint Paul, Minnesota that:
1. The HRA Board of Commissioners hereby approves the program guidelines for the St. Paul Bridge Fund on the terms and conditions described in the Board Report subject to guideline amendments that are consistent with the body of this resolution.
2. The HRA Board of Commissioners hereby approve allocating $1,000,000 of Housing and Redevelopment Trust Fund dollars to the St. Paul Bridge Fund;
3. The HRA Board of Commissioners herby approves allocating $2,300,000 of Housing and Redevelopment Authority Business program resources, including: $623,854 Business Assistance, $118,256 Pre-Development, $408,602 Strategic Investment Fund (SIF), $291,472 Job Opportunity Fund, and $857,816 Neighborhood Parking to the Saint Paul Bridge Fund;
4. The HRA Board of Commissioners hereby approves the HRA budget as set forth in the attached Financial Analysis.
5. The HRA Executive Director, staff, and legal counsel for the HRA are further directed and authorized to take all actions necessary to implement this Resolution. The HRA’s Executive Director is authorized to execute any other documents and instruments in connection with this Resolution.