Hennepin County Small Business Recovery Fund

Applications are now closed for the Hennepin County Small Business Recovery fund.

Many small businesses in Hennepin County, including immigrant-owned businesses and those that anchor our most vibrant cultural corridors, experienced significant financial and operational hardship because of the recent federal immigration enforcement surge.

The Hennepin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HCHRA) is making approximately $2 million available in the form of grants to help businesses impacted by the surge overcome short-term financial hurdles, enabling them to remain in business in their communities and to prevent widespread blight in Hennepin County.

Eligible small businesses applied for one-time grants between $3,000 and $10,000 to help cover two months’ business rent or commercial mortgage payments as they navigated reduced foot traffic, temporary closures due to safety concerns, workforce disruptions, and other impacts due to immigration enforcement actions.

The HCHRA engaged NextStage, a nonprofit community-based lender that provides business advising and small business financing, to provide the grant administration services.

Applications are now closed for the Hennepin County Small Business Recovery fund.

We have received a high volume of applications that exceeds the funding available. All completed applications received during the application period and no later than 4 p.m. on March 25, 2026, will be reviewed for eligibility in randomized numerical order. Only one application per business location will be considered.

We are beginning the grant review process right away. Applicants will be contacted regarding their application status and any next steps required on or before April 10, 2026.

Please review the fund guidelines included below and be prepared to provide the documentation listed in the guide upon request by the grant administrator, NextStage.

All information subject to change without notice.

All links and materials

Guidelines and FAQs

• English (PDF) - Revised March 20, 2026
• Hmong (PDF) - Revised March 23, 2026
• Somali (PDF) - Revised March 23, 2026
• Spanish (PDF) - Revised March 23, 2026
• Vietnamese (PDF) - Revised March 23, 2026 

Flyers

• English (PDF)
• Hmong (PDF)
• Somali (PDF)
• Spanish (PDF)
• Vietnamese (PDF)