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State proposes smaller grant pool, reduced local match for early‑childhood facility projects
Summary
Shaina Morse told the committee the governor’s capital proposal includes $2.7 million for early‑childhood facility grants and that the program is governed by Minn. Stat. §142A.46 and distributed through a competitive RFP process.
Shaina Morse, legislative director for the Early Childhood Administration, and Carrie Briones of Direct Care and Treatment described a governor’s proposal to invest in early‑childhood facilities during the Capital Investment Committee hearing on Feb. 27.
Morse said the governor’s package includes $2,700,000 for early‑childhood facility projects. She told the committee that existing statute—cited in testimony as section 142A.46—defines eligible projects as those owned by the state or a political subdivision and that projects may be leased to federally funded programs such as Head Start or to licensed childcare programs. Morse said statute outlines program priorities and that the grants are distributed through a competitive RFP process.
Nut graf: The administration described the funding as targeted to publicly owned facilities or facilities operated in partnership with public entities, with administrative limits meant to direct scarce capital to communities with higher child poverty and make awards more accessible.
Morse and Briones said typical limits would be $500,000 per project and up to $2,000,000 for a facility with multiple programs; staff also said the governor would lower the local‑match requirement from 50% to 25% to reduce barriers for smaller local partners. Officials noted historical investment between 1992 and 2014 totaled $23 million for 75 projects (57 in Greater Minnesota and 18 in the seven‑county metro) and that the last funding round before 2025 included $900,000 in 2023.
Members asked about fraud concerns raised during public comment; staff replied that the early‑childhood facility grants in the packet are restricted to public or political‑subdivision‑owned facilities and that agencies work to simplify applications and provide technical assistance to small applicants.
Ending: Staff offered to provide additional application details and clarified program criteria for committee members on follow‑up.
