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The City of Minneapolis remains committed to delivering high quality services for residents and business in the face of the coronavirus crisis. For an overview of the City's response to COVID-19 and the latest impacts to City services, visit minneapolismn.gov/coronavirus.
Applications for the City’s new forgivable $5,000 and $10,000 small business loans are open.
The loans are part of the Minneapolis gap funding package for small businesses, renters, and families. Eligible businesses must be located in targeted areas, such as Cultural Districts, Promise Zones, Green Zones or ACP 50 neighborhoods. Applications for the new funds will close Monday, April 20 at noon.
Documentation status does not affect eligibility. The City’s new forgivable loan is available to businesses with 20 or fewer employees and/or less than $1 million in revenue. The loans have no-payment and no-interest and are 100 percent forgivable after 12-months if the business continues to operate in Minneapolis and remains in good regulatory standing.
These loans allow eligible businesses to meet immediate working capital needs such as payroll and employee benefits, rent or mortgage payments, accounts payable and payments due to supply chain, and other critical working capital needs. The City will not be looking at credit scores, and no collateral is required.
The application is available here and will be posted in Somali, Spanish, and Hmong by the end of the day April 10.
For questions about the application process, call Minneapolis 311.
The City is also working to launch a modified 2 percent loan program as part of the gap funding package. The City’s existing 2% participation loan program for small businesses will be modified to set the interest rate to 0% and expand the eligible expenses to include working capital costs. Eligible businesses and self-employed workers need to have 20 or fewer employees or $1 million or less in annual revenue, and also be able to show a demonstrable impact from the pandemic.
Learn more about Minneapolis gap funding.
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To continue Minnesota’s success in slowing the spread of COVID-19 to keep from overwhelming our hospitals and save lives, Gov. Tim Walz has extended the State's stay-at-home order until May 4.
Minnesotans may leave their homes to get essential items, such as groceries or food, prescriptions and gas. People can also relocate for safety reasons, or go to work if their job is deemed essential in a sector. If you leave your home, practice physical distancing measures and keep 6 feet between you and those around you. Everyone is encouraged to stay active outside during this time, provided they keep a safe distance from others.
Learn more about the stay-at-home-order.
Enforcement of stay-at-home order in Minneapolis
Do not call 911 to report people who are not staying home during the stay-at-home order. Please call 311 if you have concerns about the voluntary compliance of the stay-at-home order involving a business, organization or a group gathering in a public space. We will route all calls to the appropriate City staff for potential action.
Wear cloth face covers when around others
The CDC and Minnesota Department of Health recommend covering your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others.
- We now know you could spread COVID-19 to others even if you do not feel sick. The cloth face cover is meant to help protect other people in case you are infected and are not exhibiting symptoms and their cloth cover is meant to help protect you.
- Continue to keep about 6 feet between yourself and others. The cloth face cover is not a substitute for keeping a safe distance.
- Everyone should wear a cloth face cover when they have to go out in public, for example to the grocery store or to pick up other necessities.
- Exceptions: Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
- Do not wear medical-grade or surgical masks. Those are in high need in health care facilities to protect health care workers.
- Viruses don’t discriminate and neither should we. Help fight the stigma around mask wearing. Report discrimination to the new state anti-discrimination hotline: 1-833-454-0148.
The CDC website offers instructions for making homemade cloth masks with or without sewing.
See an infographic on using masks.
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board reminds all park users to follow these guideline to limit the spread of COVID-19 and keep the park system open:
- Stay at least 6 feet apart from other park users not part of your household.
- Do not participate in group activities where you can’t always stay 6 feet apart.
- Do not drive across the city or metro to visit popular park attractions.
- Use parks in moderation.
Read more about the guidelines.
An overview of what's open and closed in Minneapolis parks.
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Even during a pandemic, severe weather can still happen. As part of Severe Weather Awareness Week April 13-17, outdoor sirens will be sounded at 6:55 p.m., Thursday, April 16, to allow families and second-shift workers to practice their severe weather response. Please take a few minutes that evening to talk with the members of your household about where you’ll take shelter.
To make sure you’re aware of any imminent weather danger, consider subscribing to an electronic weather alert service that sends you a notice via email or text message. Learn about options for wireless emergency alerts and smartphone apps.
Learn more about Severe Weather Awareness Week
Read more about how to prepare.
Amid rising reports of discrimination from the Asian American community, Gov Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan have launched a Discrimination Helpline to reinforce the state’s efforts to protect the civil rights of Minnesotans during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The helpline will allow those who experience or witness bias and discrimination to report incidents to the Minnesota Department of Human Rights.
Toll-free helpline: 1-833-454-0148
Hours: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Families experience stress and anxiety differently based on their circumstances. Know that it’s common for everyone to experience increased levels of distress and anxiety during this time. In the home, you can practice active listening, reflection, reframing and normalizing the situation.
Here are a few additional resources related to coping with family stress and anxiety:
For victims and survivors of domestic violence, being at home may not be the safest option. If you are experiencing domestic violence/Si Ud. es víctima de violencia doméstica:
Minneapolis Animal Care & Control has seen a significant increase in dog bites. To keep our staff and the public safe from injuries and from COVID-19 exposure, we need your cooperation.
- All dogs must be on a leash when outside or contained on your property per ordinance.
- Animals off leashes are more likely to get injured, injure others, or be lost or stolen.
- Keep cats inside and from roaming.
- Remember to keep 6 feet apart everywhere – even at parks – and avoid gatherings.
Tune into the City's cultural radio programs for COVID-19 updates. The City has weekly programs on KMOJ 89.9 FM (English); La Raza 95.7 FM (Spanish); KALY 101.7 FM (Somali); and WIXK AM 1590 (Hmong.) Radio shows schedule
 U.S. Bank Stadium and other landmarks around Minneapolis were lit blue April 9 to honor healthcare workers. #LightItBlue
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