COVID-19 Relief grants available to veterans

In Olmsted county, $75,000 has been distributed so far.

Head over to kimt dot com./// new for you on daybreak.

The "minnesota department of veterans affairs" received millions of dollars back in march to help veterans and their families during the covid?

"*19 pandemic.

Kimt news 3's madelyne watkins is finding out they still have about half of the money left to distribute by the end of the year.

Madelyne... what exactly are the grants used for?/// tyler.

In march, the department worked with state legislators to approve a 6 point 2 million dollar grant to help them out during this time.

And i'm learning there are a couple different specific things the money can go towards.

First... veterans or spouses who have been directly impacted by covid?

"*19 ?

"*?

"* whether they've tested positive, had to stay home and not be able to work as many hours or have been furloughed ?

"*?

"* they were granted an immediate one thousand dollars.

And the second option is for any veteran or spouse whose children are distance learning.

Families can be granted up to three thousand dollars for that.

Here in olmsted county... one hundred and 75 thousand dollars has been distributed so far.

The olmsted county veterans service officer supervisor, nathan pike, explains the reality some families are "the veterans spouse had to literally ?

"*?

"* they had tha conversation of 'which one of us is going to stay home with the kids.'

And they have a child that has special needs.

So this spouse way reduced her employment and that $3,000 was also able to allow them to get some technology."

There is still just over two million dollars available that the department is hoping to distribute by the end of this year.

And pike tells me even though the olmsted county veterans affairs office is currently closed to the public... their phones have been ringing off the hook and they're trying to get back to everyone either the day thank you madelyne.

For the one thousand dollar grant... veterans can apply online and directly sumbit their application to the "minnesota department of veterans affairs."

And for the three thousand dollar grant to help with distance learning... those applications have to go through your county veterans affairs office.

All of which, you can find