Month: May 2020

The Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) is releasing an updated budget projection for the current biennium, Fiscal Years 2020 and 2021. Minnesota’s budget and economic outlook has significantly worsened since the coronavirus pandemic. A deficit of $2.426 billion is now projected for the current biennium, which is almost a $4 billion change compared to the February forecast.  Revenues are expected to be $3.611 billion lower and spending, including appropriations enacted since February, is expected to be $391 million higher.  The $2.359 billion budget reserve remains available to mitigate the budgetary impact of the crisis.  Given the uncertainty about the path of pandemic, the economic outlook will remain volatile for some time.

Listen to KROX Radio for the press conference at around 2:10 this today (April 5).  

The Crookston Area Chamber of Commerce and Crookston Housing and Economic Development Authority (CHEDA) held a month-long shop local incentive program amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.  The result was the Crookston community came out in full force in support of local businesses.

Tuesday morning on Valley Talk, Chamber Executive Director Terrie Heggie announced the final numbers, including the winner who guessed the “closest” amount of receipts submitted.  The submitted receipt grand total was $214,300.17.  “That is amazing, and that is the receipts that were turned in. Imagine all the other spending that was going on through this whole COVID situation. This is just absolutely phenomenal,” said Crookston Chamber of Commerce’s Terri Heggie. “We’re turning around now and sending out those Chamber Bucks. There is $15,880 in Chamber Bucks going back out to the community members that took part in this.”
There was a contest on the Crookston Chamber Facebook page to see who could guess the closest total of all the receipts that came in. “We had 92 people guess, 87 on our Facebook page, and a few write it on their envelopes as well,” said Heggie. “Kaysie Mix was the closest to the dollar amount. Her guess was $101,739.66.”

Not only was more than $214,000 spent locally last month, but the $15,880 in Chamber Bucks will also be spent at local businesses, which is one of the benefits of a chamber membership said, Heggie. “If you are a Chamber member out there, this will come back into your business,” said Heggie. “Without our chamber members, we would not be able to provide these kinds of incentive programs. So, we appreciate all of our chamber members year after year that continues to support the chamber. It shows that we embrace the community and want our community to be resilient and still standing after this COVID crisis is over.”

Heggie said neither she nor CHEDA Executive Director Craig Hoiseth anticipated such a booming response. “I thought $80,000,” said Heggie. “And then I was like,…and we surpassed that so quickly. That’s when I had to keep my hat on. I didn’t want to leak out where we were at, at all. I had no idea at the beginning of this, and I’m quite sure Craig Hoiseth would say the same thing. We had no idea it would surpass the numbers that it did.”

Receipts from more than 400 individuals or families were received during the program, according to Heggie. “The majority of them were $500 or more,” said Heggie. “I can see we easily received over 400 pieces – envelopes or emails with receipts. This far surpassed any amount we thought was going to be generated in receipts and turned in. We are blown away by the community support around not only this incentive but in keeping those dollars local.”

Crookston’s shop local incentive program amid the COVID-19 crisis has also drawn plenty of attention outside of the local area, and Heggie said she’s sure it will be promoted on many levels throughout the state. “We have put out several posts on Facebook about this promotion, and it has been seen far and wide,” said Heggie. “It has expanded to outside our area. We have a local person who works at the Minnesota Chamber Office. He grew up here, and now he serves the Minnesota Chamber in a wonderful capacity, that’s Ben Nicholas. He has been watching, sent many encouraging messages about this program, and we have a phone call this afternoon so he can hear the numbers and how wonderful this was. I’m sure this will be promoted on many different levels because it was so successful.”

The Crookston community undoubtedly succeeded in growing stronger together through the COVID-19 pandemic with their support of local businesses. 

The Crookston Park and Rec will cancel all youth and adult summer programs this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  A press release from Park and Rec is below –

The Parks & Recreation Department has made a very difficult decision to cancel all of our summer programs and sports team activities (youth and adult). These programs do not allow for safe social distancing with a gathering of 10 people or less at this time and put the participants at risk as well as the instructors, coaches, and all involved. Many factors were considered when making this decision. The issue that we faced in every scenario was how can we offer these programs safely. In the end, we felt it was in everyone’s best interest to cancel for the summer, although we will continue to explore options going forward. We are planning to have a physical activity or mental challenge each day for youth, Monday through Friday, and will be posting them on our Parks & Recreation Facebook page.
The parks, trails, and open spaces can provide opportunities for physical activity while also providing opportunities for health and wellness. Individuals are encouraged to use our parks, trails, and open spaces safely as they are able while following current guidance to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

The Villa St. Vincent has had one staff associate test positive for COVID-19.  The following statement was released by Janis Kivela Hooey, Community Relations Manager for Benedictine Health System. –

Villa St. Vincent was notified yesterday that one associate tested positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19). This individual, who has worn a face mask on all shifts since March 11, has not worked in our building since April 27.

At this time, we are in very close communications with the Benedictine COVID-19 Task Force, and our state and local health officials to ensure we are taking all appropriate steps.

Since the coronavirus outbreak occurred, we have implemented all measures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention to prevent the spread of this virus onto our campus. These measures include:

• Providing face masks to all residents to wear whenever one of our staff is in their room or when they venture outside their room.
• Advising residents to remain in their rooms as much as possible and educating them on measures they can take to protect themselves from the virus.
• Restricting visitors to only essential health care and compassionate care situations, such as the end of life. Those individuals were required to pass a health screening before entering.
• Canceling large group activities within our building and activities involving outside visitors. 
• Implementing enhanced infection control measures, including extra efforts to clean and disinfect all high-touch areas throughout the building.
• Adjusting our meal service to provide nutritious meals to residents and tenants in their rooms and apartments.
• Screening all our associates for symptoms and temperature at the beginning of their shift each day. Associates are not allowed in the building if they are ill.
• Requiring all associates to wear face masks and face shields while providing care.

Our priority at Villa St. Vincent and THE SUMMIT is to provide a safe and healthy environment for all our residents to live fully and live well and for our associates to work. 

Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) Commissioner Myron Frans, State Economist Dr. Laura Kalambokidis, and State Budget Director Britta Reitan will present an updated budget projection for FY 20-21 on Tuesday, May 5, 2020. Governor Tim Walz will speak immediately after Commissioner Frans.
This budget projection will provide limited updated estimates of expected revenues and expenditures for the current biennium, including any appropriations already enacted this legislative session. Since MMB released the February forecast, economic conditions have dramatically weakened, and government costs related to COVID-19 have increased. A new budget outlook and any projected surplus or deficit for FY 20-21 will also be released.

You can listen to the press conference on KROX Radio, online at KROXAM.com, the KROX app, or Alexa on Tuesday, May 5 at 2:00 p.m.