The City of Hastings wants to help local non-profits.

The city has created a grant program to aid local non-profit organizations for consideration by Hastings Economic Development and Redevelopment Authority (HEDRA). The program provides $5,000 grants to non-profit organizations that can demonstrate financial hardship due to COVID-19. Priority will go to non-profit organizations that provide human services or public health services to Hastings residents (such as food delivery, mental health counseling, community outreach, housing assistance, and economic security). Grant funds may be used for payroll, utilities, rent, PPE, technology, training, facility adaptations, and other costs incurred March 1 to November 15, 2020.

The City/HEDRA is contracting with United Way of Hastings to process and evaluate applications for eligibility; however, grant applicants do not need a prior funding relationship with United Way and the City/ HEDRA will make final determinations about eligibility and awards. For more information and to download an application, visit Hastingsmngov/ HEDRAGrant.

According to the city grant info, “The Hastings City Council recognizes the unique and critical role played by non-profit organizations that fulfill social service functions during the present pandemic health emergency. The City Council established the Hastings Economic Development and Redevelopment Authority (HEDRA) to address economic development and redevelopment issues facing the community; in 2020 the critical economic development issue is addressing the impacts of the COVID-19.

ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES Businesses that meet the following criteria are eligible to submit grant applications:

•The business must be a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that provides human services or public health services to Hastings residents. For purposes of this relief program, examples of eligible services include (but are not limited to) food delivery, mental health counseling, community outreach, housing assistance, and economic security.

•The business must be in good standing with the Minnesota Secretary of State, Minnesota Department of Revenue, and City of Hastings.

•The business must be able to demonstrate financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For purposes of this relief program, financial hardship can be demonstrated in one of three ways: -The business experienced at least a 20% reduction in year-over-year revenues between March 1 and July 3, 2019 vs. 2020.

-The business was restricted from operating above 50% capacity by executive orders in effect since March 17.

-Has taken on additional services in response to COVID-19, such as food delivery services, mental health counseling, community outreach, etc.

•The business must have employed 50 or fewer fulltime equivalent (FTE) employees on March 1, 2020.

•The business must have a permanent, physical location in the City of Hastings.

•The application and proposed used of grant funds must comply with guidance and criteria of the CARES Act.

•Recipients will be required to submit a brief report of how the grants were utilized. GRANT PROCESS Applications will be accepted and reviewed on an ongoing basis. Applications received prior to Friday, October 23, will be ranked based on the program’s priorities. After October 23, applications will be reviewed on a first-come basis to the extent funds remain available. Only one application may be submitted per organization. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.