Small Business SAC Assistance Program


The Richfield Economic Development Authority developed the Small Business Sewer Availability Charge (SAC) Assistance Program in 2023 to help eligible new or expanding small businesses launch, by providing financial assistance to help offset SAC costs.

Find out more about the Small Business SAC Assistance Program

What is SAC?


SAC is an easier way to say Sewer Availability Charge. SAC is a one time fee that is paid to the Metropolitan Council to help pay for construction and maintenance of the regional sewer system.

A new or expanding business may be required to pay a SAC fee, depending on its anticipated demand on the regional sewer system. When applying for a building permit, the business needs to get a SAC determination letter from the Metropolitan Council, which will show how much SAC is owed. The current fee for one SAC unit is $2,485.

The City of Richfield collects the SAC fee when a building permit is issued and sends the payment to the Metropolitan Council.  

More information can be found here:
Metropolitan Council SAC Information Flyer (English) 
Metropolitan Council SAC Information Flyer (Spanish)

What is the Small Business SAC Assistance Program?

The Small Business SAC Assistance Program assists eligible new or expanding businesses with the fees for SAC units.  An eligible business may qualify to receive financial assistance for up to 50% of the SAC fees, with a maximum of 4 SAC units paid by the Richfield Economic Development Authority.

The City of Richfield will send SAC fees that are awarded through the program directly to the Metropolitan Council along with the SAC fees owed by the business owner.  Awarded SAC fees are not paid directly to the business owner.

Find more information, please review the Small Business SAC Assistance Program Guidelines.

Example:
SAC process 2
Is my business eligible for the Small Business SAC Assistance Program?

Eligibility:
To be considered for the program, the business must:

  • Be located within the City of Richfield.
  • Be an independently owned business. (Independently owned businesses are defined as businesses that have no corporate headquarters and do not include franchises of chain brands.)
  • Have 25 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees.
  • Have a current SAC determination letter from the Metropolitan Council for at least 2 SAC units.
Ineligibility:
The following are ineligible for the program:

  • Residential projects.
  • Home occupations.
  • Properties with delinquent property taxes.
  • Businesses not in good standing with the Minnesota Secretary of State.
  • Businesses or properties in violation of Richfield City Code, or have delinquent bills, fines or other charges due to the City.
  • Pawn shops, tobacco or marijuana shops, gun shops, check cashing businesses or sexually oriented businesses.
All eligible Richfield small businesses are encouraged to apply for assistance under the program, especially:
  • Women owned businesses.
  • Black, Indigenous or Person of Color (BIPOC) owned businesses.
  • Businesses owned by Richfield residents.
How do I get a SAC determination letter?

Met Council main-logo

Businesses must request a SAC determination letter from the Metropolitan Council.  Application forms
and instructions are located on the Metropolitan Council's website.

General information about SAC can also be found on the Metropolitan Council's website . If you have questions, send the Metropolitan Council an email with your name, contact information, business or project name, location of the project, and your question or comment.


How do I apply for the Small Business SAC Assistance Program?

The Small Business SAC Assistance Program application can be found here.
What else do I need to know?

  • Funds for the program are limited and will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis.
  • Business owners may only apply once per year for the program.
  • The Economic Development Authority (EDA) may consider granting funds on a case-by-case basis.
  • The EDA may discontinue the option to provide assistance for SAC fees and approval of an application is contingent upon available funding.
  • Approvals are granted by the EDA Executive Director. An application that is denied may be appealed to the EDA.
  • The EDA may limit the amount of assistance provided for any application.
Find more information, please review the Small Business SAC Assistance Program Guidelines.
Questions?


For general questions about SAC and how it is calculated:

Met Council main-logo

Visit the Metropolitan Council's website or send them an email with your name, contact information, business or project name, location of the project, and your question or comment.

You can also call 651-602-1770 for responses to frequently asked questions.

For questions about the Richfield Small Business SAC Assistance Program:

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Email Jan Youngquist, City of Richfield Economic Development Manager or call 612-861-9771.