Karen Newman

County food, beverage and lodging businesses, negatively impacted due to the Covid-19 pandemic, will receive a six-month reimbursement of licensing fees from Clay County, as approved at the county commission’s February 9 meeting. County Administrator Stephen Larson said, “As you will recall, back on January 19, this board unanimously approved a six-month reimbursement of 2020 licensing fee equivalents for the food, beverage and lodging businesses due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  We also extended that reimbursement to six rural Clay County venues where Clay County does their alcohol licensing. In total we had 292 businesses that would be impacted by this reimbursement totaling $76,575.25.” 

Larson continued his report by noting that Clay County General Reserve funds will be used for the payments since the 2021 budget had not provided for it. The board approved 57 businesses receiving a business relief check and the fee refund check.  The remaining 235 businesses, which were not necessarily shut down, will receive the license fee reimbursement. County Commission Chair Kevin Campbell proposed that these actions be referred to as the Food, Beverage and Lodging Covid Relief Payment. 

County Administrator Stephen Larson updated the county commission on Minnesota’s Small Business Relief program which allocated $1.24 million for Clay County distribution.  Seventy-eight Clay County businesses qualified for funding by filling out an application and providing required documentation. “As of this morning, of the 78 businesses, we have received roughly 66 responses with the necessary (final) paper work,” says County Administrator Stephen Larson.  To facilitate speedy distribution of relief funds, he urged the remaining twelve businesses to submit their final documentation by February 12. Larson added that the response to this business relief program has been overwhelmingly positive and business owners are very appreciative of the funding. 

“I think it is clear that that money is vitally important to the businesses that did apply,” added Commissioner Jenny Mongeau, “I certainly would be in support of getting that money to the businesses as soon as possible.”