Thousands of Winona County Workers Possibly Eligible for Frontline Worker Bonus

(KWNO)-Thousands of workers in Winona County could be eligible for a frontline worker bonus.  

Earlier this year, the Minnesota Legislature approved $500 million in funding for bonus checks to reward workers who were on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sectors with employees eligible for a bonus include healthcare, education, manufacturing and more.  

Data from the Winona Port Authority indicates in 2020 Winona County had over 5,500 education and health services workers and nearly 3,000 manufacturing employees. The application window opens Wednesday, June 8 and closes 45 days after.  

Department of Employment Economic Development Commissioner Steve Grove says the $500 million will be split evenly among eligible workers, up to $1,500 per person. 

The frontline sectors include:

• long-term care and home care;
• health care;
• emergency responders;
• public health, social service, and regulatory service;
• courts and corrections;
• child care;
• schools, including charter schools, state schools and higher education;
• food service, including production, processing, preparation, sale and delivery;
• retail, including sales, fulfillment, distribution and delivery;
• temporary shelters and hotels;
• building services, including maintenance, janitorial and security;
• public transit;
• ground and air transportation services;
• manufacturing; and
• vocational rehabilitation.