Dear Neighbors,
Today, Governor Tim Walz launched a new COVID-19 dashboard that tracks the virus in Minnesota and provides the latest data on available ventilators, ICU beds, personal protective equipment (PPE), and testing. The dashboard also contains links to a number of important resources for Minnesotans: employer and employee support, housing, child care, and much more. You can access this resource here.
On Sunday night at 7pm, Governor Walz will give his annual State of the State address remotely from the Governor’s Residence. This is unusual, but the right move considering our social distancing guidelines. You can watch live on his YouTube Channel.
Child Care Grants
In the COVID-19 Legislative Aid package – approved by legislators last week and signed into law by Governor Walz Saturday – there are $30 million in one-time grants to child care providers. Monthly grant awards start at $4,500. All providers awarded a grant are also eligible to receive an additional $1,000 per month if they meet certain criteria.
There are approximately 420,000 children under the age of 12 who live in a household of an essential worker within a critical sector, and about 270,000 of them will need care during this time. These services will be critical for our communities during this emergency, and applications for the grants are now available through Child Care Aware MN here.
Unemployment Benefits for Self-Employed Minnesotans
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in tremendous economic hardship for Minnesotans, many of whom have found themselves displaced from their jobs due to no fault of their own. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has processed more unemployment applications over the past two weeks than they did during all of 2019.
Many Minnesotans who are self-employed or contract workers have especially experienced many unknowns during this crisis, and help will soon be on the way. As a result of a provision included in the recently passed federal stimulus legislation, Unemployment Insurance benefits will be available to self-employed and contract workers. DEED is still working to finalize this with the U.S. Labor Department, but the application process is now open. Folks can apply at www.uimn.org and here is a guide with instructions.
Additionally, DEED has implemented a change regarding when people should apply for benefits. To help them more effectively process the record number of applications, those applying for the first time should do so based on the last number of their social security number.
Census 2020
Have you responded to the 2020 census yet? This past Wednesday, April 1, was Census Day, and everyone is counted based on where they are living at that point in time.
Responding to the census for your household is easy and takes less than five minutes. You can respond on your own, whether online, over the phone or by mail – all without having to meet a census taker.
Making sure all Minnesotans are accurately counted is critical toward our future. Our state’s share of billions in federal funding over the next decade is based directly on census totals. For everyone who is missed in the count, estimates show we will miss out on over $28,000 toward education, health care, public safety, highway funding and other critical investments. It can also protect against potentially losing one of our state’s seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. For more information, visit the Census Bureau online here.
Please continue to take care of yourself and your family. Contact me if I can be of assistance during this crisis via email at rep.mike.sundin@house.mn or phone at 651-296-4308. We will get through this together.
Sincerely,
Mike Sundin