Gov. Tim Walz announced today $4 million in emergency state funding for Minnesota’s food shelves as the federal shutdown continues.

The new funding comes as the federal government shutdown threatens to halt grocery benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program come Nov. 1.

The state faces a $73 million federal funding gap in its nutritional safety net.

Tikki Brown, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families, said the funding will provide relief for 440,000 Minnesotans who receive SNAP benefits and Minnesota Family Investment Program grocery benefits.

The state is working with The Open Door, Brown said, to distribute base funding of about $5,000 to over 300 food shelves and tribal nations statewide.

“Then we will add in additional funding whe

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