WASHINGTON – The federal shutdown threatened the operation of 30 Head Start centers run by West Central Community Action, a non-profit headquartered in Elbow Lake.

West Central and three other nonprofits that run Head Start programs in the state that serve more than 1,300 pre-school children face a Nov. 1 deadline to receive federal funding that would allow them to continue operations for a year. But as the shutdown dragged on, those payments were in danger.

“We were nervous,” said Missy Becker-Cook, CEO of West Central Community Action, whose Head Start centers serve 370 children.

But on Friday, the state came to the rescue. Minnesota’s Department of Children, Youth and Families advised West Central, and the three other nonprofits that run dozens of Head Start centers with Nov. 1 deadl

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