With schools opening this fall utilizing a variety of learning models, employees may be wondering if they qualify for the paid leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) since the school may not technically be “closed”. The US Department of Labor recently released updated guidance regarding the eligibility for paid leave relative to the varied formats and schedules schools may be utilizing. Here's what that guidance states: Scenario 1 – School is operating exclusively online If the physical location where your child receives instruction is now closed and your child is expected or required to complete assignments at home, the school is “closed” for purposes of paid sick leave and expanded family and medical Read More...
Payroll Tax Deferral Guidance Released
We published last week that we were still awaiting guidance for the Payroll Tax Deferral and that guidance was released late Friday. The Presidential Memorandum for deferring the employee portion of Social Security becomes effective tomorrow, September 1st. Limited guidance was released late on August 28th. Highlights are noted below: Employers have the option to defer the withholding and payment of the employee’s portion of Social Security tax on wages paid from September 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. Determination of applicable wages is to be made on a per pay period basis. Deferral applies to any employee whose pretax wages or compensation are less than the following amounts per applicable pay period. Biweekly - Read More...
MN Applies for Lost Wages Assistance (LWA)
On August 28th, the State of Minnesota applied to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program that was authorized in the presidential memo on August 8th. With the necessary prep work already completed, the Unemployment Insurance program will begin to pay benefits as soon as FEMA approves the state’s application. The Lost Wages Assistance benefits are retroactive to the week ending August 1, 2020. LWA will provide a temporary additional $300 a week benefit to people receiving unemployment benefits. To be eligible, an applicant must have a weekly unemployment benefit amount of at least $100 and must be unemployed due to COVID-19. Those already receiving unemployment benefits do not need to reapply or Read More...
Payroll Tax Deferral, Now What?
The President’s memorandum deferring the employee’s portion of Social Security tax starts September 1, 2020 and goes through December 31, 2020. With no additional payroll guidance as of August 27th being provided for the memorandum’s implementation, employers are left questioning if they have to participate, what their responsibility is to their employees, and what they may be liable for. Even though Treasurer Secretary Mnuchin has stated that the payroll tax deferral will be voluntary, but is it voluntary by the employer or by the employee? If it is voluntary for the employee, does an employer need to develop a process for making that election? If an employee makes the election to defer their payroll tax, can they later elect to revoke Read More...
HBIIP – Christianson & RFA Process over $31M
Retailers recently applied for up to $100 million through the USDA for higher blend renewable fuel infrastructure. Christianson PLLP, working with the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) in tandem with local retailers was an integral part of the application process for over $31 million dollars in HBIIP funding to facilitate increased sales of ethanol and biodiesel. The Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) grant program is intended to make available up to $100 million in competitive grants for activities designed to increase the sales and use of higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel. Transportation fueling facilities and fuel distribution facilities were eligible including: Fueling stations, convenience stores, Read More...
New USDA Survey
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced last week that there's a new annual survey of farmers, ranchers and private forestland owners. This survey will help USDA understand what it's doing well and where improvements are needed, specifically as it relates to the Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Risk Management Agency (RMA). A selection of 28,000 producers will receive the survey over the next few weeks, but all farmers are encouraged to take the survey here. “We want to hear from our customers so we can learn what we’re doing right and where we’re missing the mark,” Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Bill Northey said. “Good data is critical to good Read More...
Follow up to Heroes and HEALS – The Outcome
We’ve been keeping a close eye on the Democratic HEROES and Republican HEALS Acts debate among Congress because of the widespread impact to you and the economy. Our report last week (Link to article) gave you a run down of the differences between them and mentioned the impending August 7th deadline. What we didn’t mention was what would happen if no agreement could be reached. And it wasn’t. It turns out that over the past weekend Trump made good on his promise to step in if this couldn’t be solved in time by signing an Executive Action into existence. It adopted neither of the plans perfectly and became a hybrid of its own. It addressed 4 things considered crucial: Unemployment Increase The previously debated weekly bump of $600 Read More...
HUBZone Program Improvements
The SBA HUBZone program fuels small business growth in historically underutilized business zones with a goal of awarding at least three percent of federal contract dollars to HUBZone-certified companies each year. There have been three major purposes for these changes including improving the customer experience, increasing program utilization, and expanding and stabilizing the footprint. This contracting program for businesses in historically underutilized business zones now has: Streamlined application process A user-friendly application portal will be introduced in late 2020. Simplified contract verification A firm certified at the time of initial offer will generally be considered a HUBZone small business Read More...
Small Cities Development Program (SCDP)
The Small Cities Development Program (SCDP) Unit is accepting preliminary proposals, the first stage in the grant application process for eligible activities addressing community needs for owner-occupied housing rehabilitation, rental and/or commercial building rehabilitation or public facility improvements through the SCDP. Program Description: The SCDP supports community development activities that: Encourage and assist local governments to develop comprehensive economic development strategies which promote viable communities by providing economic opportunities for Low-to-Moderate Income Households; Encourage and assist local governments to develop comprehensive public facility improvement strategies in conjunction with Read More...
Restructuring Farmers are Eligible for Relief from Loan Fees!
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is providing funds to farmers to lower borrowing costs! Recently, MDA announced that they are providing COVID-19 relief funds to farmers who are restructuring their debt. This relief provides up to half of the loan guarantee fees on USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) restructuring loans covered through a new Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) program, paid for through federal COVID-19 funding. Who is eligible to apply? In order to be an eligible applicant, you must: Have closed on a qualifying FSA restructure loan between May 28, 2020 and December 15, 2020. Be in mediation or have recently received a Mediation Notice. Have a net worth of $800,000 or less. Be a resident of Read More...
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