DEED Roundup-Oct. 19, 2015

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Oct. 19, 2015

In the News

Breaking Down Economic Barriers
Rochester Post Bulletin-10/13/15
The Rochester Post Bulletin and other media applauded Gov. Dayton last week for creating a new Office of Career and Business Opportunity at DEED. The office will focus on breaking down barriers to employment and business for people of color in the state. "This is a first and important step in addressing the troubling economic disparities facing people of color in Minnesota," the governor said.

New Effort Addresses Workforce Shortage
Minnesota Public Radio-10/14/15
Concerned about a worker shortage that could top 100,000 in five years, Twin Cities business leaders last week launched a new effort to bring top talent to the region and keep it here. The effort will focus on using Facebook, LinkedIn and other digital media and networking to reach people who could be wooed to or back to Minnesota.

DEED Funds Bemidji Training Centers
Prairie Business-10/19/15
DEED awarded $198,000 to the Greater Bemidji Minnesota Innovation Institute and $164,302 to the Northwest Indian Opportunity Industrialization Center's (OIC)partnership with Optivation, a customized training department at both Northwest Technical College and Bemidji State University. Tuleah Palmer, who heads the Northwest Indian OIC, said the region has among the highest jobless rates in the state. The training grants will help close the gap, Palmer said. 

Did You Know?

Small town main street

Realtor.com's list of "Top 10 Affordable Small Towns Where You'd Actually Want to Live" includes three Minnesota communities: Albert Lea (third), Austin (fifth) and New Ulm (eighth). Realtor.com compiled the list after assessing more than 500 U.S. micropolitan areas.  

 

 

Recent Press Releases

Three State Companies Expanding
Three Minnesota companies have been approved for grants from the Job Creation Fund for expansion projects that will create 45 jobs. The companies are Alexandria Extrusion Co. in Alexandria, Anderson-Crane Co. in Litchfield and P&F Machining Inc. in Otsego. Altogether, the three companies will spend $12.1 million on the expansions. DEED approved the companies to receive grants totaling nearly $461,000 from the Job Creation Fund, contingent on meeting their hiring and investment commitments.

Unemployment Rate at 3.8 Percent
The Minnesota unemployment rate dropped 0.2 percent in September to a seasonally adjusted 3.8 percent, according to DEED figures. The state labor market lost 5,700 jobs during the month. Minnesota has added 35,242 jobs in the past year, a 1.2 percent growth rate compared with a 1.9 percent U.S. growth rate during that period.

Low-Income Worker Training Grants
DEED has awarded 21 grants totaling $2.67 million to programs that train low-income workers. The Low Income Worker Training Program grants will cover the cost of training people with incomes at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty line. “This investment works to address racial employment disparity by providing Minnesotans with barriers to employment, and especially those from communities of color, the training they need to access living wage jobs,” Commissioner Sieben said. 

Recent Blog Posts

Cargo ship

The call to export -- especially for small and midsize manufacturers -- has become an industry mantra. And for good reason. Our Minnesota Business 101 blog reviews some management issues to consider before diving into the global market.

Serving Our Clients

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DEED will sponsor a weeklong series of job-search training workshops for U.S. military veterans next week. The sessions will run from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each day at the Hennepin North WorkForce Center in Brooklyn Park. Topics will include skills identification, resumes, translating military skills, networking, reintegration and more. Interested participants can sign up here.