PROMISE Act II Application

PROMISE Act Grant Application

Deadline to Apply: January 30, 2026
This is the second round of the PROMISE Act Grant being administered by the Northwest Minnesota Foundation.

You can review more information about the grant program here.

You can find other state support for small businesses here.

Please fill out this application to determine your eligibility for the PROMISE Act Grant being administered by the Northwest Minnesota Foundation (NMF).

Please note that eligibility does not gurantee a grant. We expect this program will be in high demand. If more businesses qualify than funding allows, awardees will be randomly selected from the pool of qualified applicants.

Read and Confirm
Please read the following statements and confirm you understand before proceeding with your application
All Eligible Applicants Must Meet ALL of These Factors
- Your business had a gross annual revenue of AT LEAST $10,000 but NO MORE THAN $750,000 in the 2024 tax year.
- You filed business taxes for the 2024 tax year. If you are a nonprofit, you filed a Form 990 for the 2024 tax year. Nonprofits: Please read the nonprofit eligibility regarding earned revenues above.
- Your business or nonprofit is maintaining ongoing operations as of the date of the application.
- Your primary business or nonprofit operation is located in one of the two Tribal Nations or 12 counties of the Northwest Minnesota Foundation's service area: Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake Falls, Red Lake Nation, Roseau, or White Earth Nation.
  
  If your primary business or nonprofit operation is not in one of our 12 counties, please refer to the DEED website for contact information for your region
Nonprofit Organizations Must Read:

Nonprofit organizations are also eligible to apply for this grant if the nonprofit organization earns 30% or more of its revenue on an ongoing basis through non-tax-deductible sales or dues in a fee-for-service model similar to a for-profit business. If your nonprofit organization does not earn revenues through business-like sales, please do not complete this application.

For simplicity, when the word "business" is used throughout this application, it applies to nonprofit organizations as described above.
I understand that no business or individual may receive more than one grant (per the PROMISE Act statute). Any previous individuals or business awardees will be ineligible to receive a second award. I also understand that if I give false or misleading information, I will be disqualified and may be reported to the State of Minnesota.*

I understand
It is important to use only one email address when completing this application or to ask questions about your application. The use of multiple email addresses will cause substantial delays in processing or reply. Updates and communications about your application will be sent to the email address you use on this application.*

I understand
Within this application, you will be asked to provide a Government or State-issued ID. This will be verified for authenticity, and that it matches the application information. If the person completing the application is not the authorized signer, you agree to work with us validate the identity of the authorized signer, including that receipt of that person's identification.*

I understand

Business Owner Information
Please list a business owner who owns at least 20% of the business. For a nonprofit, list a director on the Board of Directors with board appointed authority to submit this application.
Business Owner Name*

First NameLast Name
Business Owner Email (Please double check for accuracy)*
example@example.com
Business Owner Phone Number*
Please enter a valid phone number.

Applicant Information
Person Completing the Application*

First NameLast Name
Your Relationship to the Business*
Person Completing the Application Email (Please double check for accuracy)*
example@example.com
Person Completing the Application Phone Number*
Please enter a valid phone number.

Required Documents to Upload
The documents below are required to complete your grant application.

Only PDF documents will be accepted. Pictures of documents will not be accepted, as they are often too difficult to read.

If you need assistance scanning your documents into PDF format, our recommendations include requesting assistance from your banker and asking for help at your local library.

If you are an iPhone user, you can use the Notes app to scan documents to PDF. Android phones with the Google Drive app may also be able to scan documents to PDF.

Please be prepared to submit the following:
- 2021 Business Tax Return
  - This upload is required only if you answered "yes" to "Was your business operating in 2021?"
- 2023 Business Tax Return
- 2024 Business Tax Return
- Home-Based Business Verification
  - This upload is required only if you answered "yes" to "Is this business based in your home?".
  - Farm businesses: Upload Schedule F
  - Non-farm businesses: Upload Schedule C and/or Form 8829 showing line 30 if you used the simplified method
- Identification of Primary Business Owner or Authorized Non-Profit Board Member
  - Supporting documentation for a business owner who owns at least 20% of the business. For a non-profit, a director on the Board of Directors with board-appointed authority should provide this required information.
  - Driver's License or ID card issued by the federal, state, or local government agencies or entities
  - Document cannot be expired
- Proof of Operating Business Address
  - Current utility or rent bill
  - Purchase agreement, or similar document dated within the last 60 days
  - A signed lease agreement that's current; or other documentation.
2021 Tax Return

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2023 Tax Return*

Cancelof
2024 Tax Return*

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Home-Based Business Verification (if evidence was included in the 2024 tax return, you may disregard this upload request)

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ID of Primary Business Owner or Authorized Non-Profit Board Member*

Cancelof
Proof of Operating Business Address*

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Sign and Submit
Please review, sign, date, and submit your application. A copy of your submission will be sent to you via email after you hit submit! Please check your inbox, spam, junk, etc.

Tennessen Warning Notice: We are requesting data from you to determine if you are eligible for a grant under the Providing Resources and Opportunity and Maximizing Investments in Striving Entrepreneurs (“PROMISE”) Act through the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (“DEED”) and its partners. You are not required to provide the requested information, but failure to do so will may result in the denial of your application for this grant program. The data that you provide will be shared with DEED’s partner organizations who are authorized to provide grants to businesses under the PROMISE Act grant program. The data may also be shared with other government entities or individuals who have a legal right to this data including, but not limited to, the Office of the Legislative Auditor, the State Auditor, or as otherwise required or permitted by state or federal law or court order. Data Privacy Acknowledgement: Upon completion of the evaluation process, data in your response will be public with the exception of trade secret data as defined and classified in Minn. Stat. § 13.37. For more information about data classification relating to grants, please refer to Minn. Stat. § 13.599.

By completing and submitting this application you affirm the following:

1. I have read and understood the information provided above and I agree to supply DEED and their partners with the information requested.

2. I understand that the information may be used as described above in accordance with Minnesota Government Data Practices Act.

3. I affirm that, as an officer or authorized agent of the business, I have authority to submit this application on behalf of the business, and the information submitted is correct and accurate to the best of my knowledge.
Signature*

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Today's Date*

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PROMISE Act Grant Application