Dakota Times

The Minnesota Senate approved a $216 million relief bill aimed at helping small businesses that have been affected by the shutdowns and restrictions imposed to slow the spread of the coronavirus, according to a Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus press release.

This bill is intended to provide fast relief to businesses that need it. The bill provides direct relief payments and business grants distributed to counties across the state. 

“I am very pleased with the bipartisan effort that went into getting this bill done. Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate, as well as the governor and his staff, worked tirelessly over the last month to deliver this much-needed relief to the small businesses who have been negatively impacted by COVID, especially those that have been forced to close under the governor’s executive orders," Sen. Jeremy Miller (R-Winona) said.

Though the bill does provide some temporary relief to small businesses, it is yet to be determined whether many small businesses will be able to endure the entirety of the pandemic.