Clay county Commissioner Jenny Mongeau, explains CARES Committee grant funding process.

Karen Newman

The Clay County Board of Commissioners received and approved a request for equipment purchases funded through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. From the $7,843,443 in total county CARES funding, Clay County plans to direct $2.25 million to support for small businesses.  An additional $250,000 is available for 501-c-3 and 501-c-19 nonprofit organizations. County Administrator, Steve Larson and IT Director Mark Sloan reported that an on-line application form activated on August 17 and will be open through September 7 at 11:59 PM.

Commissioner Jenny Mongeau explained that a committee made up of representatives of all Clay County cities will review eligible funding requests. She stated, “It is our intention that if you meet the eligibility requirements, you will be approved.  Once all of the applications come in at the end of the application period, we will determine the amount received based on the number of applications.”

For further information about small business relief is accessible from the Clay County website at https://claycountymn.gov/COVID-Relief. 

Clay County IT Director Mark Sloan reported that as the pandemic lengthens, his department requires additional equipment to maximize information services to county citizens.    He listed three immediate needs to be purchased for $14,500 which will come from the $1.5 million infrastructure allotment in the county’s CARES Act funds.

· Install technology to livestream meetings in additional rooms in the county courthouse.

· Purchase a portable meeting cart so those unable to present for county business can participate in meetings from remote locations.

· Purchase a new signage cutter. Citing increased need for signage on county property due to Covid-19 regulations, Sloan joked, “The old cutter isn’t ‘cutting it’ anymore.”

Speaking in favor of the purchases, Commissioner Mongeau who also serves on the CARES Act committee said, “Because of our limiting access of people to the courthouse for meetings, it has become, in my eyes, a limitation to allow citizen input.” She continued her recommendation for the equipment purchase, “It is the New Age in how we get information to citizens.”