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<br /> <br />VI. Business Items <br />A. COVID-19 Response: Ramsey County Support Program <br />Gozola stated for years, the City of New Brighton has prided itself on providing exceptional <br />service while having one of the lowest tax levies in the metro when compared to similar sized <br />cities. While the approach has worked tremendously and is overwhelmingly supported by our <br />residents, the reality is there are no spare pots of money to draw from when confronting an <br />unprecedented challenge like we currently face with COVID-19. For that reason, our residents <br />and businesses are greatly reliant on our partnership with the County to help in providing <br />short-term assistance and programs to help us weather this storm. Kari Collins and Josh Olson <br />from Ramsey County, will be our primary presenters during the meeting on July 1st. Their <br />team has created the ramseycountymeansbusiness.com website. In normal times, this site <br />allows the City to identify development incentives we have to offer as well as highlight <br />specific properties (i.e. Block B) we want national developers to consider. During the time of <br />COVID, this site has also been expanded to include a Business Recovery Guide: a consolidation <br />of the most up-to-date resources to help our businesses and residents recover from the <br />impacts of COVID-19. Whether at the Federal, State, or local level, all available programs for <br />assistance can be found on the County’s website. County staff will be reviewing the spectrum <br />of available resources with the Commission, and will make themselves available for your <br />questions following their presentation. We encourage you to visit <br />ramseycountymeansbusiness.com prior to the meeting in preparation for this presentation <br />and discussion. <br />Kari Collins, Ramsey County Community and Economic Development Director, thanked the <br />Commission for the invitation to this meeting. She introduced the Commission to Ramsey <br />County’s CED Team noting these individuals were a resource to the City of New Brighton. She <br />commented on the programs being offered by Ramsey County. She described how Ramsey <br />County was strengthening the region through Open to Business and other programs or <br />initiatives. <br />Josh Olson, Ramsey County Community and Economic Development Deputy Director, <br />reviewed the Community Development Block Grant funds that were available through the <br />County. It was noted this program tends to be focused on infrastructure projects for low to <br />moderate income persons. He then discussed the home investment partnerships offered by <br />the County. He described how the Environmental Response Fund was used to help project <br />partners clean up contaminated properties throughout the County. Further discussion ensued <br />regarding the CEO Next Business Institute and PACE programs. The new programs being <br />offered in 2019-2020 were reviewed. The features of the Corridor Revitalization Pilot Program <br />were reviewed. <br />Ms. Collins discussed the RamseyCountyMeansBusiness website. She described how this site <br />had been revamped to become a COVID-19 resource navigator. She commented further on <br />how Ramsey County has been addressing COVID-19 and civil unrest in the community. The <br />relief that has been offered through Small Business Relief Funds was discussed. The <br />collaborative efforts to assist businesses through the Business4Business program was <br />reviewed. She reported additional funding may be available from the federal government <br />through CDBG-CV (Supplemental COVID funding) and US EDA Funding.