In March 2020, Mayor Carter announced the Saint Paul Bridge Fund to provide emergency relief for families and small businesses most vulnerable to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The program was funded through $3.25 million dollars from the Saint Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority along with contributions from philanthropic, corporate and individual donors. Through these additional contributions, the fund provided $4.1 million to families and small businesses in Saint Paul.

View Full Report (PDF) View Families Dataset (OpenData) View Small Business Dataset (OpenData)

IMPORTANT TAX INFORMATION: The City cannot offer tax advice and encourages grant recipients to consult with a tax professional.

  • Business Grant Recipients: The City issued a 1099 form to most business grant recipients at the end of the year. These forms were issued to business grant recipients if required by the IRS.
  • Family Grant Recipients: In accordance with Mayor Melvin Carter’s local emergency order and Internal Revenue Code Section 139, the family grant payments are being issued in connection with local qualified disaster in order to promote the general welfare and therefore should be considered non-taxable relief payments.  The City cannot offer tax advice and encourages grant recipients to consult with a tax professional

Applications

More than 7,200 applications were received during the 11-day application period. Of these applicants:

  • More than 5,200 families applied for a $1,000 grant
    • 64% were from ACP50 areas (Areas of Concentrated Poverty where 50% or more of the residents are people of color)
  • More than 2,000 small businesses applied for a $7,500 grant
    • 37% were from ACP50 areas

Awards

The 7,200 total applications were reviewed in order of a random number assigned at application close. Of these applications:

  • 1,265 families were awarded a $1,000 grant
    • 63% were from ACP50 areas
    • 66% indicated they are renters
    • 37% cited layoff or furlough as contributing to their economic hardship
    • 22% cited reduced hours as contributing to their economic hardship
    • 19% are unbanked
  • 380 small businesses were awarded a $7,500 grant
    • 37% were from ACP50 areas
    • 90% cited they were ordered closed under one of the Governor’s Executive Orders

Funding

Source Amount
Saint Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) $3,250,000
Knight Foundation $400,000
Bush Foundation $100,000
Ecolab Foundation $50,000
Securian Financial Group $50,000
Minnesota United FC $25,000
Minnesota Wild Foundation $25,000
Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation $25,000
Xcel Energy $25,000
Baird Foundation $10,000
Ryan Companies $5,000
US Charitable Gift Fund $5,000
St. Clement's Episcopal Church $2,500
Whaley Foundation $1,000
Renaissance Charitable Foundation $50
Additional private donors $139,993
Additional HRA funds $1,457
TOTAL SOURCES $4,115,000
Number of family grant awards 1,265
Amount of family grant $1,000
Total amount of family grant awards $1,265,000
Number of small business grant awards 380
Amount of small business grant $7,500
Total amount of small business grant awards $2,850,000
TOTAL USES $4,115,000

Last Edited: January 28, 2022