​​The Northland Foundation and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is helping northeast Minnesota businesses learn about and apply for Main Street Covid Relief grants. The DEED portal to apply will open Sept. 20 and close Sept. 29.

Applicants who qualify and are selected will receive grants between $10,000 and $25,000 depending on the number of full-time employees on staff. Grants may be used for working capital to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility bills and other similar expenses, including those incurred since March 12, 2020, in the regular course of business.

A total of $64.2 million is available — half of that outside of the Twin Cities area — for businesses that can demonstrate financial hardship due to the pandemic. Requirements include:

The Northland SBDC and DEED has been offering online information sessions. There is one scheduled for 10 a.m. on Sept. 20. Email the Northland Foundation at [email protected] for more information or visit northlandsbdc.org.