Minnesota Using $47 million in Federal Funds for Child Care Assistance, COVID Testing and Food

(KNSI) – Minnesota is spending $47 million in federal COVID relief funds to help with child care shortages, food support, and rapid at-home COVID testing. Governor Tim Walz says the $47 million from the federal American Rescue Plan will help the state continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The $47 million includes funding to support child care programs across the state, provide immediate hunger relief, and increase the availability of rapid testing as the Omicron variant continues to spread.

According to a press release, $20 million will help child care programs remain open if they’re having difficulty staying staffed and dealing with the increased costs connected to the latest surge in COVID-19 cases. The $20 million can be used to cover lost revenue, temporary quarantines, pandemic-related worker vacancies, and staffing limitations.

The governor’s office says another $20 million in federal funds will be used to provide urgent relief to Minnesotans experiencing food insecurity. Funding will be used to support the Supplemental Nutrition Program (SNAP). Money will also keep food shelves and meal programs.

Seven million dollars will help cover the cost of rapid home tests and staffing shortages at medical facilities. The governor says the funds will make the critical tool of testing more accessible to Minnesotans as the highly transmissible Omicron variant continues to spread.

___