2026 Emergency Relief Resources

Help us understand the total need so we can advocate for more resources:

• Total Need Quick & Easy Census - use this tool to give us the numbers - quickly, confidentially. Put together by our ally Jonathan Banks to quickly input the numbers AND find eligible resources.
• Lake Street Council Survey - this tool helps add the broader context with the numbers.

• LEDC - Latino & Immigrant Business Emergency Relief Fund
  • Recent federal immigration enforcement activity across Minnesota is placing Latino and immigrant-owned businesses under severe strain. Fear, reduced foot traffic, and sudden revenue loss are forcing many entrepreneurs to make impossible decisions just to keep their doors open.  Saint Paul’s East Side—a historic cultural and economic backbone of the city, home to generations of Latino-owned small businesses that support families, workers, and entire neighborhoods.  In response to this crisis, LEDC has launched the Latino & Immigrant Business Emergency Relief Fund, including grant assistance to help businesses stabilize quickly.
• Minneapolis Foundation - $3.5 Million for Immediate Small Business Support
  • The Economic Response Fund will activate an initial $3.5 million through grants to established community organizations with deep experience in small business support. Support will focus on helping businesses take care of their people through such means as supporting payroll and maintaining staff and business hours, as well as helping those businesses pay rent and maintain inventory.
• MN PROMISE Act Grant
  • The MN Promise Act Grant is a Minnesota state-funded program that provides financial support to small businesses and eligible nonprofits that have faced barriers to capital. Administered by DEED through local partners, the grant helps businesses cover operating costs like payroll, rent, utilities, and equipment to support stability and growth across Minnesota.
• The Salt Cure Restaurant Recovery Fund
  • The Salt Cure Restaurant Recovery Fund is an act of preservation. Our restaurant community is at a critical moment. We are here to help preserve the heart of Minnesota's food culture, serving those that serve us.
• Constellation Fund - Immediate Response Fund
  • The Immediate Response Fund is deploying funds in $50,000 increments to carefully selected organizations in our portfolio—high-impact nonprofits already embedded in affected neighborhoods with the relationships and infrastructure to respond effectively. 
• Fortis Capital - 2% Forgivable Loan
  • Fortis Capital, a nonprofit organization that provides financing to small businesses and small developers in the Twin Cities.  Fortis Capital has a 2% Forgivable Loan product for existing small businesses located on the East Side of Saint Paul (Districts 1, 2, 4 or 5).  This loan is designed to provide flexible, low-cost capital to help businesses stabilize, cover operating needs, or invest in growth.  Loan Highlights:
    • Loan amount: Up to $10,000
    • Interest rate: 2%
    • Term: 36 months
    • Payments: Monthly interest-only payments
    • Forgiveness: One-third of the original loan is forgiven each year, as long as payments are current
  • If you are interested or would like help understanding whether this loan is a good fit for your business, you can contact the loan consultant directly:
    • Mara O’Neill
      Loan Program Consultant, Fortis Capital
      📧 mponeill2020@gmail.com
      📞 651-261-3369

ESABA has technical assistance providers who are available to help support you and navigate to resources.  To help us narrow down what support you need and which provider to connect you with, please fill out this INTEREST FORM.  Once we have received your submission, our team will reach out to you to connect you with a TA provider within 1 week.  Thank you! 

Coming soon with more resources about:

• Business Planning
• Insurance Claim Review
• Landlord Lease Negotiation
• Marketing and Pivoting to Increase Revenue
• Digital Tools to Help Increase Sales 
• Business Resiliency