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Lyon Co. approves $500,000 COVID-19 grant program

Lyon County Auditor/Treasurer E. J. Moberg delivers a report to the Lyon County board. Lyon County will be accepting grant applications from area businesses for $500,000 in state COVID-19 relief funding.

MARSHALL — Lyon County businesses can now apply for new grants to help with the costs of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Tuesday, county commissioners approved a program to distribute $500,000 in state funding for small businesses and nonprofits that were affected by executive orders issued in response to COVID-19.

“If you guys approve it, it will start tomorrow,” Lyon County Auditor/Treasurer E.J. Moberg told commissioners. Area businesses and nonprofits would have until Feb. 17 to apply for the grants, he said.

The $500,000 for the grant program in Lyon County was part of a $216.8 million economic relief package passed by the Minnesota Legislature and Gov. Tim Walz. Nearly $115 million of that funding was distributed to Minnesota counties for relief grants.

At Tuesday’s meeting, commissioners also went over a draft application for the grant program. Businesses and nonprofits are asked to provide information including their gross revenue for 2019 and for 2020, and to explain how they were negatively affected by the executive orders.

The grant funds can be used for expenses like lease or mortgage payments, payroll costs, utilities, safety improvements or other expenses.

“I hope it gets primarily with groups that need it,” said Commissioner Paul Graupmann.

While there isn’t a set grant award amount or a grant limit, the county will review the applications it receives, Moberg said. The size of grant awards will be affected by criteria like need and the number of eligible applications the county receives, said Moberg and Lyon County Administrator Loren Stomberg.

More information on the grant program, as well as the applications, are available online at www.lyonco.org/relief. Applicants are encouraged to e-mail their applications to relief@co.lyon.us, Moberg said. Applications will be due Feb. 17.

Commissioners voted to approve the grant program, with Commissioner Charlie Sanow abstaining.

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