State allocates $47M in American Rescue Plan funds for COVID response

Tuesday, Gov. Tim Walz’s office announced the allocation of $47 million in federal American Rescue Plan funding for the state’s COVID-19 response.

The funding includes support for child care programs, immediate hunger relief and rapid testing availability.

"The federal American Rescue Plan funds deliver relief to Americans by providing resources to fight this pandemic and build a stronger economy for generations to come," Walz said in a statement. "Minnesotans continue to battle COVID-19 and the social, economic, and health care challenges it brings every day. Today’s investments will help more Minnesotans access child care, ensure food security, and provide increased access to rapid testing."

Of the $47 million, $2.5 million will go to expanding the state’s COVID-19 testing infrastructure, $20 million will be used to battle food insecurity through the Supplemental Nutrition Program (SNAP), and $20 million will help child care programs dealing with increased costs and staffing challenges.

More on the state’s allocation of COVID-19 funds can be found here.