Some Resources in Rochester, State of Minnesota and at the Federal level for Businesses and People Impacted by COVID-19 and How We Can All Help

Rochester, Minnesota skylineUpdated 4/16/20

The following is a list of resources for businesses, opportunities for the community to help others, and helpful services during the COVID-19 response. Destination Medical Center will continue to update this list.

COVID-19 Information

City of Rochester COVID-19 Hotline: 507-328-2822. The hotline is staffed by Rochester Public Library staff members from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Mayo Clinic News Network COVID-19 page includes news updates on COVID-19 and health information.

Minnesota Department of Health includes the latest statewide updates and case information along with Hotline numbers and other COVID-19 resources.

State of Minnesota COVID-19 Response page includes links to unemployment insurance, school closure information, human services programs, materials for media, hotline numbers, details on Governor Tim Walz’s actions and more.

Resources for Businesses

City of Rochester and Rochester Area Economic Development, Inc. Emergency Economic Development Loans will be used to provide assistance to small local businesses directly affected by the Governor’s order during the COVID-19 pandemic event.

Collider Foundation’s “Stronger Together Business and Nonprofit App”: A grassroots initiative led by Collider Foundation, BrandHoot, and Rochester Rising to build a free, public mobile application to support Rochester businesses. Businesses and nonprofits in Rochester can submit specific “asks” from the community or offers to share.

Facebook Small Business Grants Program: Facebook is offering $100 million in cash grants and ad credits for up to 30,000 eligible small businesses.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Coronavirus Tax Relief outlines steps to help taxpayers, businesses and others affected by COVID-19.

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development: A Guide for Minnesota Small Businesses who Need Help is a summary guide to help small businesses quickly see which programs might be right for their situation.

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development: Helping Minnesota Businesses during COVID-19 includes information about SBA low interest loans, sales tax grace period, workplace health and safety, unemployment insurance and lost business insurance coverage.

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Small Business Emergency Loans will assist small businesses directly and adversely affected and whose industry is named in Executive Orders 20-04 and 20-08 following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minnesota Disaster Recovery Fund (MDRF) for Coronavirus, created to support community needs as a direct result of the Coronavirus pandemic. The MDRF funds both short and long-term needs that arise within communities, due to coronavirus or future disasters that occur within the state of Minnesota.

Rochester Area Economic Development, Inc. (RAEDI) COVID-19 Resources includes local, state and federal resources for businesses.

Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce – COVID-19: Business Operations Guidance includes CDC Interim Guidance for Businesses & Employers, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Unemployment Insurance Information for Employers and Employees, Minnesota Department of Health Information for Employers and U.S. Small Business Administration COVID-19 Response Guidance.

United We Stand Microgrant Fund aims to provide emergency cash assistance for brick and mortar businesses in Rochester, Minnesota.

U.S. Small Business Administration – Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources: Includes information on Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, Guidance for Businesses and Employers, SBA Products and Resources, Government Contracting, and Local Assistance.

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loans: Minnesota small businesses are now eligible for disaster loans.

Resources for Nonprofit Organizations

Hourcar is inviting Rochester area social service nonprofits to sign up and use its service for free from April 15-June 30.

Minnesota Council of Nonprofits has a resource page for nonprofits impacted by COVID-19.

Otto Bremer Trust Community Benefit Financial Company Emergency Fund is a $50 million emergency fund to provide financial assistance to nonprofits in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Montana impacted by or responding to the pandemic.

Other Community Resources

Community Food Distribution: the City of Rochester, Cradle 2 Career, Channel One Regional Food Bank and other community organizations are working to ensure food and other necessities are available to those in need.

City of Rochester COVID-19 Updates  includes news releases and updates on City of Rochester services and COVID-19 response measures.

City of Rochester Resolution to Support Community During COVID-19 Pandemic: a list of several measures the City of Rochester is taking to address a variety of areas aimed to aid and support the community. This includes three areas of authorized funding to lessen the direct and immediate impact of COVID-19.

Olmsted County COVID-19 page includes news and updates from the Olmsted County Department of Health

Experience Rochester has updates on restaurants, attractions and Mayo Civic Center during the COVID-19 response.

Flatten the Curve – Rochester MN is a Facebook group with locally crowd-sourced information on COVID-19 related resources in the community.

Post Bulletin CovidHelp page includes links to food resources, healthcare, individual aid, education, and financial services.

RNeighbors Morale Booster Mini-Grant: offering grants of up to $200 to support an activity that will help a neighborhood weather the pandemic.

Rochester Community Warming Center: The Mayo Civic Center is serving as a day center and an overnight warming center for individuals experiencing homelessness.

Rochester Farmers Markets Online Ordering and Pickup/Delivery Services allows online orders from several market vendors. Order by 7:00 p.m. Wednesday for the following Saturday’s market.

Rochester Mom Blog has compiled a list of online activities for families while schools are closed and other resources to help at home.

Rochester Public Schools Updates includes information on school closures, childcare, meals for students, and resources for families.

Senior LinkAge Line: a free service of the State of Minnesota that connects older Minnesotans and their families with the help they need.

Step up to SIT: A service organized by two Rochester sisters to help pair babysitters with area families.

United Way’s 211: Free Information and Referral Resource is free, confidential, available 24/7, and multilingual. A trained information and referral specialist will help connect you with local services and resources that meet your needs. The United Way’s “United We Fight Coronavirus” page also includes general information about COVID-19 in multiple languages.

Volunteer Opportunities and Ways You Can Help:

Blood Donations at Mayo Clinic: According to Mayo Clinic, there is a critical shortage of blood donations because of COVID-19. The American Red Cross also faces a severe blood shortage.

Channel One Regional Food Bank: Emergency Volunteers Needed – Channel One is in need of low-risk, healthy volunteers to help pack emergency boxes of food for those facing food insecurity. Shifts include box packing, sorting room, and cleaning/sanitizing.

Choo-Choo-Ca-Chew has compiled a list of local Rochester, Minnesota restaurants and how you can support them.

Greater Rochester Area COVID-19 Community Support Fund is designed to provide financial resources quickly and easily to local nonprofits that are experiencing unforeseen challenges and issues due to the ongoing crisis.

Rochester Area Youth Tech Foundation laptop donations: The organization is hoping to collect 250 laptops to help students who do not have access to technology at home.

Rochester Downtown Alliance: How to help the downtown Rochester community during COVID-19 includes a list of several creative ways to support businesses and neighbors.

Rochester Downtown Alliance: Businesses with take-out, delivery, gift cards, and online services in Rochester includes ways to help local businesses impacted by coronavirus closures.

Roch Strong App: An app developed by BrandHoot, Collider, Rochester Downtown Alliance, and Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce that highlights local restaurants with takeout and delivery services, activities to do, places to shop online, and ways to volunteer.

Virtual Activities from Local Businesses

Healing Rhythms Music Therapy is offering free, live music-assisted relaxation sessions on its Facebook page.

History Center of Olmsted County “History at Home” features daily activities, videos, and history in action on Instagram, IGTV, Facebook, and YouTube

Live Shows Under Quarantine: The Post Bulletin has compiled a list of local musicians performing live shows online.

Neon Green Virtual Craft Hour: Each day, Neon Green art studio will post a themed craft idea and host Facebook live sessions.

Rochester Public Library Facebook Live Storytime

Yoga Tribe free Facebook live yoga sessions

Paper Hearts in the window of the Rochester Mayo Clinic Area Hilton HotelMaking a Difference

Many Rochester area residents and businesses are sharing their time, talents and resources to support those around them, and demonstrating why Rochester is often referred to as the City of Care and Compassion. Here are some of those contributions and how you can participate.

City Market has a new program that allows the public to purchase a $10 meal for a local healthcare worker.

Hassle Free Grocery – Rochester, MN is a crowd-sourced Facebook page that lets people know which items are in stock and various grocery stores in Rochester. Hotel Indigo’s Chief Engineer, Mike Haskin, developed the service.

The Kindness Pandemic – Rochester, MN Facebook group encourages its members to do one act of kindness each day in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

KROC created a virtual tip jar for Rochester area restaurant and hospitality workers.

Mr. Pizza North is giving customers the option to buy a frozen pizza that will be delivered to Channel One Food Bank.

Roasted Bliss Coffee Shop and Bakery is collecting donations to help make treats for local healthcare workers, first responders, and essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rochester Police Department’s Community Service Officers teamed up with Cub Foods to help deliver groceries to at-risk and elderly residents in Rochester.

Rochester Thaw Music Festival is raising funds for Rochester-based musicians who have lost their income due to shows and festivals being canceled.

Seamstress Brooke Burch is sewing reusable protective masks for Rochester area hospitals and clinics with the help of community donations and volunteers.

Teddy Bear Hunt in Rochester: residents are putting teddy bears in their windows to give families the opportunity to go on “bear hunts” through their neighborhoods.

TOGETHER: Greater Rochester Area COVID-19 Community Support Fund: Rochester Area Foundation, United Way of Olmsted County and Mayo Clinic have created the TOGETHER: Greater Rochester Area COVID-19 Community Support Fund. The fund is designed to provide financial resources quickly and easily to local nonprofits that are experiencing unforeseen challenges and issues due to the ongoing crisis. With contributions from individuals and donations from community partners, including Think Mutual Bank, IBM, Lasker Jewelers, Pepsi, and Rochester Sand & Gravel, the fund is more than halfway to a goal of $1 million.

Several Rochester businesses and organizations, Texteijl Printing, Rochester Community and Technical College Foundation, Brand With Herr and Mike Olston IT/Network are teaming up to create and sell shirts to start a fund to provide grants to small businesses.