The Olmsted County Board of Commissioners voted to provide $200,000 to Channel One to help fill an anticipated gap in food benefits if the federal government shutdown continues and federal food programs are paused.

Deputy County Administrator Amy Rockwater told commissioners the county is tracking potential impacts of the federal shutdown on federally administered programs, including Medicaid, SNAP, MFIP and WIC, and outlined the numbers the county is monitoring. "If the shutdown continues into November, there will be insufficient funds to pay November SNAP and MFIP food benefits," Rockwater said, and she reported that 6,653 households in Olmsted County (12,817 people) would be affected by a lapse in SNAP and MFIP food payments.

Virginia, a Channel One representative who addressed the board, summarized the food bank’s capacity and cost estimates. "The retail cost of a meal was $3.83, and Channel One's cost per meal is 78¢," she said, and described a Channel One estimate that it would cost roughly $375,000 per month to fill the anticipated SNAP gap for Olmsted County using the food bank’s purchasing channels.

Board members, public-health staff and Channel One discussed WIC and infant-formula supply. County public health staff said the state reported funds sufficient to cover WIC food benefits through mid-November; the WIC program serves more than 3,000 clients monthly. Wendy O'Leary, WIC services manager for Olmsted County Public Health, said WIC is a supplemental program and that some families also have access to medical assistance for formula purchases. "WIC is a supplemental program," O'Leary said; staff emphasized that medical-assistance coverage could fill some medical-formula needs but that gaps could remain.

Channel One representatives told the board that food banks cannot fully substitute for SNAP nationwide and that bulk purchasing and donation strategies can help locally. They explained distribution options and verification practices: Channel One would aim to limit distribution to Olmsted County residents missing SNAP benefits and use verification methods the county could help implement.

Commissioners debated whether the county should step in to partially cover the anticipated gap and how to structure community outreach or matching campaigns. One commissioner proposed funding half the estimated local need and challenging community partners to raise the remainder. Another commissioner urged caution, saying county action cannot substitute for federal appropriations and expressed concern about setting a precedent.

After discussion, a motion that the county provide a $200,000 restricted payment to Channel One — restricted for food and formula for Olmsted County SNAP participants only — passed on a voice vote. The board and Channel One officials said they would remain in close contact to refine distribution plans, verification methods and procurement timelines.

County staff and Channel One said timelines are tight if benefits lapse in early November: Channel One said it could place orders immediately and potentially begin distribution by about November 1 for dry goods and somewhat later for truckloads of protein, but the ability to source medical-grade infant formula is more constrained and could take longer.

The board instructed staff to continue coordination with Channel One, public health, school districts and other partners to target distributions to the highest-need ZIP codes and to keep commissioners updated as the situation develops.