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Dakota County board authorizes application for SHIP grant, seeks nearly $4 million over five years
Summary
The Dakota County Board on July 8 authorized county public health to apply for the Minnesota Department of Health's Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) grant cycle, with an anticipated award of just under $4 million over five years pending MDH award amounts.
The Dakota County Board of Commissioners on July 8 authorized county public health to apply for and accept funds from the Minnesota Department of Health Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) for the 2025–2030 grant cycle.
Interim Public Health Director Gina Pastelka told the board that SHIP aims to prevent chronic disease by investing in community-based, policy, systems and environmental strategies. "SHIP's focus really, is to prevent chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and stroke," Pastelka said, adding that Dakota County has been a SHIP partner since 2009 and has received "over $10,000,000" in prior cycles.
Deputy Public Health Director Erin Carter described local initiatives supported by SHIP funds, including Credible Mind (a centralized mental health and well-being resource), dementia kits developed in partnership with the county library system, a Food RX program in collaboration with veteran services and family home visiting, increased engagement at farmers markets and improvements to food shelf infrastructure. Carter said county efforts also supported workplace lactation spaces and policy alignment with federal requirements and that the county leveraged more than $9,000,000 in infrastructure investments with physical development to improve walking and biking access.
Carter said nine of the county's 10 school districts participated in 15 initiatives during the previous cycle, naming examples such as outdoor classrooms, vaping prevention, water-bottle filling stations, calm rooms, alternatives-to-suspension programs, safe routes to school and restorative practices. She noted that the annual statewide SHIP meeting will be held in Dakota County at the Eagan Community Center, and that the county received an award letter from MDH the prior month.
County staff told the board that pending any changes in state award amounts, "Dakota County can expect to receive just under $4,000,000 over the five years of this cycle," and that SHIP applications to MDH are due Aug. 15. The board voted to authorize application and acceptance of funds.
Commissioner Halverson moved approval of the resolution and Commissioner Hayman Rowland seconded. A roll-call vote was recorded as unanimous: Commissioners Halverson, Hayman Rowland, Atkins, Workman, Droste, Holberg and Slavik voted "yes." The motion carried.
