Efforts are underway to help reduce the burden that the COVID-19 pandemic has placed on Kansans of all ages.
This sentiment was part of Governor Laura Kelly’s prepared comments during her most recent news briefing Friday afternoon during which time she unveiled a new $8.9 million federal grant recently awarded to the state which will be utilized to strengthen the state’s early childhood system. The grant, awarded by the Administration of Children and Families, is the first installment of a three-year renewable Kansas pre-school development grant according to Governor Kelly.
Governor Kelly says this collaborative work actually began at the start of 2019 with the creation of a program planning grant by the Kansas Children’s Cabinet, the Kansas Department of Education, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas Department of Children and Families.
Separately Friday, Governor Kelly updated the status of the federal pandemic unemployment compensation plan which provides an additional $600 per week for individuals who have lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Governor Kelly, the Kansas Department of Labor has already managed to pay out over $20,000 since the payments went retroactive on Wednesday.
This news comes as the United States lost 20.5 million jobs in the month of April and the national unemployment rate skyrocketed to 14.5 percent, the highest percentage seen since the Great Depression.
Governor Kelly’s new briefing schedule is Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 2 pm. We’ll continue airing the briefings live on 14 KVOE, 96.9 FM and KvOE.com.
