Dear Neighbors,

As we close the book on 2020, I want to thank everyone in our region for the opportunity to represent you at the State Capitol. This past year has been filled with struggle, turmoil, and heartbreak. None of the problems we’ve experienced have been quick or easy to solve, and there’s still plenty of work to do as we rebuild from COVID-19’s health and economic impacts. Looking ahead, I hope we can all be safe, healthy, and prosperous in the coming year. Here’s an update.

COVID-19 Economic Assistance

Small businesses and working Minnesotans have faced tremendous economic hardship because of the pandemic due to no fault of their own. Last Monday, the House approved a COVID-19 Economic Assistance Package to help businesses and workers survive this economic crisis. The Governor has since signed the bill into law. Here are some highlights of the plan:

• A 13-week extension of unemployment benefits. Without this legislative action, over 100,000 Minnesota workers were on track to lose benefits on December 26 when funding under the federal CARES Act expires.
• $88 million of financial aid to businesses experiencing economic harm due to the pandemic. Those eligible businesses include restaurants, bars, coffee shops, breweries, wineries and distilleries with taprooms or tasting rooms, caterers, bowling alleys, and some gyms and fitness centers.
• $14 million worth of grants to movie theaters and large convention centers.
• $114.8 million for county grants to other affected businesses, including hotels, museums, arcades and live theater venues.
• Waiver or delay of a series of fees for the hospitality industry, including 2 a.m. liquor licenses for bars, caterers that serve alcohol, wastewater permitting fees for small breweries, and certain late payment penalties for food related businesses.
• Extension of the deadline for families to apply for free and reduced-price lunch.

Here’s some information from the Department of Revenue, which is in the process of contacting business owners about relief payments:

The federal government has finally reached an agreement on a COVID-19 economic recovery package, too. Please continue to support your favorite mom and pop establishments as you are able, with takeout meals, gift cards, or merchandise. Small businesses are the economic backbone for our rural communities, and we are all counting on them to make it through this crisis.

Vaccination Plan

While we’re still going through difficult times, there is reason for optimism. The state’s COVID-19 vaccination plan has been announced, and the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have now been administered. The first phase – those in Group 1A – includes health care personnel and long-term care residents. Within this phase are sub-prioritization groups. Group 1B covers essential workers, including sectors like education, food and agriculture, utilities, police, firefighters, corrections officers, and transportation. Group 1C will include those 65 or older and those with underlying health conditions. In Phase 2, the vaccine will be distributed more broadly.

The initial supply is limited, so it will likely be spring before the vaccine (which won’t be mandatory) is available  to everyone who wants it. Still, this is a positive development showing light at the end of the tunnel.

Committee Chairmanship

The next legislative session convenes on January 5. When this happens, I’ll have the honor to chair the House Agriculture Finance & Policy Committee. In addition to ensuring we all have something to eat on the kitchen table, agriculture is part of our state’s economic backbone. The industry has been facing significant challenges though, and we will need to continuously work to help ensure our family farms can thrive, attract new farmers to the profession, and look to new opportunities, like growth of nontraditional and organic farming.

I grew up on a dairy farm in Koochiching County, plus the Ag Committee is also traditionally one of the most nonpartisan in the entire Legislature, so I’m excited to get to work on these important issues in January.

Name a Snowplow

Today is the first day of winter, and while Mother Nature hasn’t delivered large amounts of snow so far, we know significant winter storms are inevitable. When this happens, we can rely on MnDOT, county, and city crews to head out on a moment’s notice to keep our highways and local roads safe and drivable.

To celebrate the winter season, MnDOT is holding a contest to name a snowplow within its fleet. The contest, which got underway Thursday, has already attracted thousands of entries including Kent Brrrbek, Duck Duck Gray Truck, and Bobsled Dylan. The top eight will be compiled in February for a final vote to name the plow. Click here to submit your idea before January 22.

Please continue to reach out with your viewpoints, ideas, or if I can ever be of assistance. It’s an incredibly trying time for many in our state, we know Minnesotans are resilient, and if we continue to care for one another, I’m confident we will emerge from this difficult situation.

Wishing you a safe, healthy, and joyous Holiday Season.

Merry Christmas!

Sincerely,

Mike Sundin