County approves new round of COVID-19 relief grants for hardest-hit businesses

Twenty-three businesses in Rock County are targeted for a second round of coronavirus aid grants.
Commissioners received $250,000 from the state in additional pandemic relief, and a distribution plan was approved at their Jan. 5 meeting.
Targeted are bars and restaurants and other business entities most affected by Governor Walz’s Emergency Executive Order 20-99. The order required a four-week “dial back” on in-person dining and other social activities in order to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The county’s more focused approach is meant to assist local bars and restaurants along with bowling alleys, events and fitness centers that were adversely affected by the second round of business closures .
Counties are charged with distributing the funds locally. No additional dollars were allocated to cities, as in the first round of coronavirus aid.
“What they (state officials) want us to be is a gap filler for that executive order, I believe,” said County Administrator Kyle Oldre.
State legislators approved a plan to automatically compensate businesses that experienced more than a 30-percent decline in sales.
Oldre said some affected businesses in Rock County did not meet that threshold because they adjusted how they do business to lessen the loss.
“They believe they are not going to get money from the executive order, but they still have a pretty substantial need,” he said.
One business owner told Commissioner Jody Reisch that community support has been tremendous through take-out orders and generous tips.
In the first round of business grants, applicants could apply for up to $5,000 from the county.
In the second round, no monetary cap was established.
“The problem you’re going to have is that you don’t have enough money to make everyone whole again,” said County Attorney Jeff Haubrich.
After filling out the application, discussions between business owners and committee members will determine exact losses and division of the grant dollars.