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COUNTY NEWS

Crow Wing County to shore up day cares, broadband, infrastructure

Crow Wing County commissioners took steps in 2021 to distribute a fresh round of relief dollars from the federal government intended to curb the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Targeting a child care shortage further exacerbated by dozens of closures of day care providers,

Crow Wing County offered grants to day care providers and those considering opening a child care business to increase availability for parents. A total of $500,000 was set aside for this purpose.

Tyler Glynn, executive director of the Brainerd Lakes Area Economic Development Corp., told commissioners in September 2021 a recent study surveying employers, parents and day care providers in Crow Wing County revealed a need for at least 1,200 more slots for children to receive care. This shortage, Glynn said, is a contributing factor to the overall labor shortage plaguing many industries.

The funds are a portion of the first half of the $12.6 million awarded to the county in the federal American Rescue Plan Act. There was no cap on individual child care grant requests, but providers were required to have or plan to have a physical location in Crow Wing County, be licensed through the state or be obtaining a license and commit to operating the business for at least two years upon the acceptance of funds.

In addition to shoring up child care, commissioners also agreed to four other spending priorities for the $6.3 million in federal funds. These priorities included bolstering spending on expanding broadband access and infrastructure including sewer and water, along with funds to ensure the future independence of the Family Services Collaborative of the Lakes Area. Dollars were also slated for internal Crow Wing County department needs and county government capital improvements.

A total of $1 million was set aside for proposals from internet service providers and the three sanitary sewer districts in the county, with applicants agreeing to fund at least 20% of the cost of their proposed projects.

Two internal county uses were expected: permitting leaders of each department to pitch various proposals that may fall under allowable uses for the funds, and identifying projects on the county’s capital improvement plan that could utilize those funds instead of county property tax levy dollars. A total of $1.5 million was set aside for departmental use, and the capital improvements portion remained open-ended.

The final element of the relief program was to solicit a grant request from the Family Services Collaborative of the Lakes Area. The collaborative was originally a joint effort between school districts, the federal government and county governments to draw down federal resources for various child social work programs. As federal resources to this programming dry up, American Rescue Plan Act dollars provide an opportunity to give the organization independence from governmental reliance, county leaders said.

No maximum dollar amount was associated with this proposal, but the collaborative was asked to offer a figure that would assure its independence.

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