FAIRMONT — Because of the COVID-19 outbreak, area organizations continue to make changes to protect the well-being of communities. They include:

Southern Minnesota

Initiative Foundation

A press release from Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation states it is launching an emergency child care grant program in southern Minnesota, at the request of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

The release notes that six state Initiative Foundations, including Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, have created an emergency child care grant program to offer immediate financial support to licensed child care providers, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. All six foundations have committed $50,000, for a total of $300,000.

The foundation will award grants of up to $1,000 to eligible licensed family child care programs, and grants of up to $3,000 for licensed center-based programs in SMIF’s 20-county region.

To be eligible, providers must be caring for the children (ages birth to 5 years) of parents or guardians working in government-identified critical sectors that are exempt from the stay-at-home order.

Interested child care providers should complete a short application provided on SMIF’s website. The foundation’s intent is to provide a response and funding to qualified child care businesses within two weeks of receiving an application.

For more information, contact Rae Jean Hansen at raejeanh@smifoundation.org or call (507) 214-7012. Learn more about Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation’s COVID-19 response in southern Minnesota at smifoundation.org/covid-19

Minnesota Rural

Electric Association

A press release from the Minnesota Rural Electric Association states that Minnesota’s electric cooperatives are ready to continue providing safe, reliable service.

They say the state’s electric cooperatives have plans and processes in place to ensure the continued delivery of safe and reliable power.

The association says Minnesota’s electric cooperatives are in close and constant communication with federal, state and local officials to ensure members’ needs for electricity are met during the pandemic. In addition, electric cooperatives have taken extensive measures to ensure their workforce remains healthy and that power plants continue operating as normal.

In the event a cooperative needs additional personnel assistance, mutual aid agreements are in place to keep the power flowing.

The safety of cooperative employees, members and the general public is a top priority. Therefore, electric cooperatives have implemented rigorous safety measures. Many co-op’s have closed their lobbies to visitors, postponed meetings and events, and have employees working from home. Processes have been enacted for lineworkers to ensure they continue to have immediate access to the resources and services needed to maintain power reliability.

Kossuth County

Emergency

Management

A news release from Kossuth County Emergency Management notes that state and local economic development officials are providing services to Kossuth County small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has issued a disaster declaration for Iowa, effective Jan. 31, that allows small businesses to apply for low-interest support loans, following a request from Gov. Kim Reynolds.

On March 23, Reynolds announced a new Iowa Small Business Relief program to provide financial assistance to small businesses and tax deferrals to businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. More information can be found at the Iowa Economic Development Authority website at https://www.iowaeconomicdevelopment.com/our-agency-detail-resources/6710

Kossuth/Palo Alto County Economic Development has taken measures to provide services to area businesses. Maureen Elbert, executive director of KPCEDC, said the office website now has a COVID-19 link where business owners can find needed resources. KPCEDC is also posting all information on financial assistance programs on its Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn sites. The Kossuth/Palo Alto County Economic Development website is located at http://kossuth-edc.com/covid19