Minnesota Retailers Offer Phased Guidance For Re-Opening Critical Next Steps For Minnesota’s Retailers & Consumers Should Balance Public Health and Economic Health

Saint Paul, Minnesota – Today Minnesota Retailers Association releases guidance to the Governor, Legislature and retail businesses throughout Minnesota about a phased approach to re-opening business across the state. 

Retailers from national brands to family-owned, C-stores, and main street boutiques account for over 69,000 businesses that impact 780,000 Minnesota jobs. Retailers in Minnesota have a direct economic impact of $20 billion 

As Minnesota begins to re-open the economy, the Minnesota Retailers Association offers the following phased approach. All of this guidance must be aligned with public health strategy. 

“Balancing economic health and public health is a shared goal of all Minnesotans”, Bruce Nustad said. “As community business owners and operators, retailers see a path to get back to business in concert with public health recommendations. We’ve collected input from each corner of the state to put forward a plan working with government to get retailers back on their feet while creating a safe shopping environment customers and workers. For the 100,000 or so idled retail workers and our economy, a planned, safe return of stores is critical ” 

Phase 1 – Immediately we request that Gov. Walz and state officials take action on the following: 

• Make all organizations impacted by COVID-19 eligible for the State DEED Emergency Loan Program; 

• Delay May 15 business property tax payments 60 days and assist impacted local governments; 

• Extend and increase funds for the Federal Paycheck Protection Program; 

Phase 2 – In the short term, we believe strongly that the following actions can be commenced: 

• Open up curbside shopping and delivery so main street retailers in every Minnesota community can generate some cash flow; 

• Take action to expand widespread COVID-19 antibody testing and tracing critical to getting Minnesotans back to work; 

Phase 3 – In the mid-term, we believe retailers should be permitted for the following: 

• Let stores reopen to consumers under social distancing store best practices; 

• Ultimately, we recognize that there is a “new normal” for Minnesotans and we want to shift business to be as accessible and successful after dealing with serious challenges during the “Stay At Home” order. 

A complete outline of Critical Next Steps For Minnesota’s Retailers & Consumers is available here: www.mnretail.org/nextsteps 

About Minnesota Retailers Association MnRA represents 1,200 storefronts across the state and supports retailers to the benefit of their customers, their communities, their employees, and our State economy. Retail impacts 1 in 5 Minnesota Jobs!