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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carolyn
Marinan, Communications, 612-348-5969
$3.5M CARES Act funding to support absentee voting
The board allocated $3.5 million of CARES Act funding for absentee voting, with a goal of increasing safety in the 2020 election for voters and elections workers.
Funds will be used to:
- Educate and encourage eligible voters in Hennepin County to vote absentee by mail
- Provide additional temporary staff and supplies to manage and count a significant increase in absentee ballots due to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Implement public health measures in polling places
- Recruit new polling place staff to mitigate a reduction in volunteers
$1.7M for multidisciplinary approach to combat COVID-19
Approach includes testing, contact tracing
The board designated $1.7 million of CARES Act funding for a multi-faceted approach to minimizing the spread of COVID-19.
Hennepin County will:
- Hire 25 staff to provide mobile testing at long-term care facilities, neighborhoods and communities most disproportionately impacted, and other emergent locations
- Hire 15 staff for contact tracing and investigation efforts
- Contract with Hennepin Healthcare to provide COVID-19 testing services
- Supply the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) for these staff
Request for aid to restore, rebuild properties damaged during civil unrest
Hennepin County joins other government partners in requesting state and federal aid for properties that were damaged during civil unrest.
The board affirmed its support of these efforts on Thursday and amended its 2020 state legislative platform.
County buildings sustained more than $2.5 million of damage, according to a recent estimate. Hennepin County will also seek aid to recoup costs for emergency measures to protect county buildings, such as barricades, fencing and window protection.
In addition, more than 400 businesses have reported property damage, with rebuilding costs currently estimated at more than $500 million.
$1M of CARES Act funding to support summer youth programs
The board allocated $1 million of CARES Act funding to help organizations safely provide youth programs and organized youth sports during COVID-19.
Organizations will use funding for facility adaptations, technology, supplies and personal protective equipment.
Distance learning resources for youth
The board approved $1.5 million of CARES Act spending to support resources for distance learning for youth involved in county systems, such as child welfare and corrections.
While schools continue to work to secure devices for students, gaps in access to broadband connectivity remain. The ability to ensure uninterrupted educational stability for youth involved in county systems could include:
- Purchase of devices
- Investment in broadband for specific locations that have high concentrations of youth without connectivity
- Purchase of hotspots and cell phones for internet connectivity
Current and archival board meetings, agendas and minutes are available at hennepin.us/boardmeetings.
Look for more news on the Hennepin County website at hennepin.us/news.
Discover how we're making a difference in our communities at hennepin.us/stories.
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