Thanks to a state grant, county attorney Kristen Nelsen will be getting a little more help in her office soon.

With $300,000 in funding from the Minnesota Office of Justice Programs, the department will be able to hire two new employees as soon as Oct. 1, with each being able to work in Mower County for two years.

On Tuesday, the county board gave the human resources department permission to hire a legal assistant and an attorney with the grant money.

Nelsen said the two new employees — who will not cost local taxpayers anything — will help relieve an overworked staff.

“We are very grateful to get the grant,” she added.

Nelsen’s office has eight employees, four of whom are lawyers. She said the new, fifth attorney will help with a heavy caseload in the next two years.

The county will also look to reduce caseload by creating a “pre-trial diversion” program with the grant money for qualified adults and youth offenders who are not appropriate for teen court options — a program that could help settle cases more quickly and without court hearings.

Because the county is looking for an attorney to jump right in and help out in a short timeframe, Nelsen said she’d prefer an “experienced” lawyer.

The county attorney said she has a few people in mind but no offers have been made.

The legal assistant position will be posted within the county because it is a union job.

Nelsen said neither of the two new hires will be guaranteed employment in the county after the two-year grant is up.

“It’s a chance for us to get some help without costing the taxpayer,” she said.

Overall, the OJP will be awarding roughly $11 million to 40 local governments and non-profits across the state for a variety of programs.

Grant amounts are still tentative and contingent upon final plans and budgets.