Subd. 1. Authority.

In addition to the commissioner's authority to make child care services grants, the county board is authorized to provide child care services, or to make grants from the community social service fund, special tax revenue, or its general fund, or other sources to any municipality, corporation, or combination thereof, for the cost of providing technical assistance and child care services. The county board is also authorized to contract for services with any licensed day care facility, as the board deems necessary or proper to carry out the purposes of this section.

1. (1) creating new licensed day care facilities and expanding existing facilities including, but not limited to, supplies, equipment, and facility renovation and remodeling;
2. (2) improving licensed day care facility programs, including, but not limited to, staff specialists, staff training, supplies, equipment, and facility renovation and remodeling. In awarding grants for training, counties must give priority to child care workers caring for infants, toddlers, sick children, children in low-income families, and children with special needs;
3. (3) supportive child development services, including, but not limited to, in-service training, curriculum development, consulting specialists, resource centers, and program and resource materials;
4. (4) carrying out programs, including, but not limited to, staff, supplies, equipment, facility renovation, and training;
5. (5) interim financing; and
6. (6) carrying out the resource and referral program services identified in section 119B.19, subdivision 3.

The county board may also make grants to or contract with any municipality, licensed child care facility, or resource and referral program, or corporation or combination thereof, for any of the following purposes:

Subd. 2. Donated materials and services; matching share of cost.

For the purposes of this section, donated professional and volunteer services, program materials, equipment, supplies, and facilities may be approved as part of a matching share of the cost, provided that total costs shall be reduced by the costs charged to parents if a sliding fee scale has been used.

Subd. 3. Biennial plan.

The county board shall biennially develop a plan for the distribution of money for child care services as part of the community social services plan described in section 256E.09. All licensed child care programs shall be given written notice concerning the availability of money and the application process.