ST. PAUL – As the Minnesota House approaches legislative deadlines for bills moving forward during the 2024 session, State Representative Bjorn Olson (R-Fairmont) said a number of proposals he’s sponsoring are making headway – including a plan to secure funding for the child care center at the Lakeview Methodist Home in Fairmont.
“Funding is needed in order to complete the Building Blocks Learning Center and Child Care portion of the facility,” Olson said. “If we are successful, we could potentially double the number of kids being able to attend Martin County’s only child care center.”
The COVID pandemic hit as the new Lakeview Methodist Home was being constructed. Inflation then caused building costs to dramatically increase, leaving enough money to finish everything but the new child care center.
Olson’s bill would allocate $1 million to the project, which would solve a significant portion of the funding shortfall. When finished, the Building Blocks Learning Center and Child Care center is expected to accommodate nearly 100 kids. Currently, there is a waiting list of 80.
“Completion of the project addresses two problems, available child care and new employees entering the workforce,” Olson said. “If parents can find child care, they can go back to work and not only help their family but help our local economy. For Fairmont, it’s a win-win situation.”
Olson said his proposal was recently heard in the Minnesota House Workforce Development Finance and Policy Committee, and now heads to the Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee for further debate.
Olson noted several other bills he is carrying are moving forward in various House committees, including a pair of veteran-related proposals and well as some capital investment initiatives.