VIRGINIA — A disaster recovery center opened Friday, Aug. 16, in Virginia to help residents with recovery after the severe storms and flooding earlier this summer.
Specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the state of Minnesota and the U.S. Small Business Administration will be at the center to help survivors.
The center is located at the St. Louis County Public Works Training Room in Virginia, open from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Mondays through Sundays. All appointments are on a first-come, first-serve basis.
People can apply for federal disaster assistance, upload documents, get their questions answered in person and access other types of help that may be available. They can also learn how to make their properties more resilient to future natural disasters.
Federal financial assistance is available for eligible homeowners and renters in the form of grants to cover costs of temporary housing and home repairs, low-interest loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals recover from the effects of the disaster.
"Having a physical location for people to get help from trained professionals is a great resource for our residents," stated St. Louis County Commissioner Paul McDonald, whose district was hardest hit by the June 18 storm, in a news release.
"Having all three agencies in one place is especially helpful because it functions like a triage. For instance, a person may not be eligible for a particular type of assistance but can immediately be referred to other programs for which they do qualify."
St. Louis County reported it is providing use of the Public Works Training Room for the Disaster Recovery Center at no charge.
Business Recovery Center
The SBA also opened a Business Recovery Center in St. Louis County earlier this week at the Cook Fire/Ambulance Hall, 111 Second St. SE. The Business Recovery Center is open 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Saturdays.
SBA staff at the Business Recovery Center will help business owners complete their disaster loan application, accept documents, and provide updates on an application’s status. Walk-in appointments are available on a first-come, first-served basis, or people can schedule an in-person appointment through the SBA website at appointment.sba.gov.
Both of the staffed sites will remain open until further notice. Federal financial assistance is available to private property owners because the June flood event is now a Presidentially Declared Disaster.
-
Plus: The Grand Rapids Economic Development Agency will use state funds to demolish the former Itasca Farm Co-op. -
Megan Buffington/KAXEThe U.S. Forest Service will close its decades-old Grand Rapids research office as part of a national reorganization. The lab produces world-renowned work on woods and water. -
Larissa Donovan/KAXEKlobuchar visited with Conservation Corps members, local and state fire officials and others during a follow-up on recovery from a devastating wind storm in June 2025. -
Contributed/NWSThe snow will likely stick around for at least a few days, with temperatures near zero possible Monday night, April 6, 2026, in the extreme north. -
Contributed/Minnesota Farmers Union via FacebookThe People's Town Halls are an opportunity for the public to share how elected officials can help them meet their needs and build strong rural communities, the union said. -
Plus: St. Louis County to choose between local labor or risking federal funds.
-
Contributed/U.S. Forest ServiceThe office is one of 47 research and development facilities closing amid a major reorganization of the agency. The Superior and Chippewa offices and their staffing are not impacted. -
Contributed/Carlton County EMS via FacebookThe recognition of a Kettle River first responder's efforts illustrates the balancing act between passion for their mission and funding woes. -
Co-hosts Heidi Holtan and Charlie Mitchell wonder at the mating habits of garter snakes, discuss the overwintering habits of butterflies, and look forward to spring's advance.Send us a voice memo through Speak Pipe! -
Screenshot/St. Louis County via YouTubeThe federal government is behind schedule in approving the county's requirement of project labor agreements. County staff are asking for a temporary waiver to ensure they don't lose funds.
