SAINT PAUL, MN— Today, the Minnesota Senate passed a $217 million COVID-19 relief bill aiding small businesses across the state. The legislation provides relief through direct grants to businesses and counties and includes a thirteen-week extension of unemployment insurance benefits for out of work Minnesotans.

In response, Senator Karla Bigham (DFL-Cottage Grove) released the following statement.

“Minnesotans in every corner of the state have been asked to make tremendous sacrifices in response to this public health emergency. This relief package is a necessary economic life rope for those small business owners who have been asked to close their businesses, and for those workers who are still unable to safely return to their jobs. While this is a good step, we have much more work to do in the upcoming session to help these businesses and workers rebound and recover. We also need the federal government to step up to the plate and pass another COVID-19 relief bill.”

About Senator Karla Bigham

Karla Bigham is a state senator who represents Cottage Grove, Hastings, South St. Paul, St. Paul Park, Newport, Afton and neighboring townships. She is a member of the following committees: Environment and Natural Resources Finance; and Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy; Human Services Reform Finance and Policy. She formerly served as a Cottage Grove City Council Member and a Washington County Commissioner.