The MN PROMISE Act grant application is reviewed in three main stages. Here's what to expect at each step:
✉️ Confirm Your Email Address
Before starting your application, you will be asked to confirm your email address. This is the email we will use to track your application throughout the entire process.
📌 Important:
You must use only one email address throughout all stages of the application and for all communications.
Using multiple email addresses or submitting more than one application may result in delays or errors in processing.
You may receive an ineligible notice at any stage if your application is found to no longer meet eligibility requirements.
✅ Stage One: Eligibility Check
After you submit your Stage 1 form, here’s what to expect:
Within a few minutes, you will receive a confirmation email with a copy of your submitted responses.
Within about 60 minutes, you will receive a second email letting you know whether your application is eligible to move forward.
📌 Reminder: All grant communication will be sent by email. Please use an email you check regularly.
📄 Stage Two: Document Upload
If you are eligible, you will be sent a secure, unique link to the applicant portal. From there, you will:
Create a profile
Upload the required documents to verify your eligibility
📌 Important: The link to your applicant portal is unique to you. Do not share or forward it to anyone else under any circumstances.
If anything is missing or incorrect, you will receive an email with instructions and support options.
Applications that are complete and correct will move forward for evaluation.
🔍 Evaluation
After submitting your Stage 2 documents:
Your application will be reviewed to ensure all required materials are complete and correct.
Applications that meet all requirements are advanced to the next stage based on the program’s eligibility and evaluation criteria, as outlined in the MN PROMISE Act law.
If your application is not advanced immediately, it may still be considered later in the process.
You will be notified by email once your application is evaluated.
🔐 Stage Three: Final Documents & Verification
If your application advances to Stage Three, you will be asked to:
Upload additional financial documents
Complete secure identity verification using Plaid, a trusted platform used by financial institutions
If additional information is needed, you’ll be notified by email and given a deadline. Incomplete submissions may not be processed.
🏛️ Final Review by the State
Once all three stages are complete, your application will be sent to the State of Minnesota for a final evaluation.
At this stage, the state may request more information or issue a final decision.
Please note: Neighborhood Development Center does not have access to updates during this phase.
💵 Receiving the Grant
If your application is approved by the State of Minnesota:
Funds will be sent to Neighborhood Development Center
Neighborhood Development Center will deposit the funds directly into your bank account
You will receive an email confirmation once the deposit has been made
What impacts who gets an award?
Several key factors determine which eligible businesses receive a grant. The process is designed to be fair, transparent, and based on criteria set by the State of Minnesota.
Here’s what impacts whether a business receives an award:
📍 Where Your Business Is Located
Applications are compared to others in the same geographic area (e.g., South Minneapolis, St. Paul, Uptown, or North Minneapolis).
Applications will be reviewed based on the date a fully complete and correct application is submitted.
As funds are committed over time to eligible and complete applications, later submissions may have less funding available. Timing matters but it’s just one part of the process.
🎲 Random Number
Every application is assigned a computer-generated random number to help break ties in a fair and transparent way.
This only matters if two applications from the same geographic area (like South Minneapolis or St. Paul) have the same preference score. In that case, the random number helps decide which application moves forward.
💡 Keep in Mind
Because funding is limited, not all eligible applications will receive a grant.
