DEED Roundup -- May 27, 2014

DEED
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          DEED Roundup - May 27, 2014 

DEED in the News

USDOL Secretary Perez

DEED Commissioner Katie Clark Sieben  welcomed USDOL Secretary Thomas Perez to the Burnsville WorkForce Center on May 16. At a roundtable discussion Perez said other states could benefit by adopting workforce development strategies underway here.

An Unemployed Guy's Guide to the Minn UI System
MinnPost-05/20/14
You will go to meetings. You will wait an extra week for your unemployment insurance. And you will be stunned by how little you know about government programs and how they work.

Visiting Swedes See Promise in Free Trade Plan
Finance & Commerce-05/19/14
Proposed free trade agreement between the EU and US could increase Minnesota’s exports to the region by 40 percent and bring 15,000 new jobs to the state. Minnesota’s medical device industry received particular attention because of the treaty’s focus on streamlining the two markets’ regulatory procedures. Check Compare Minnesota: Minn registered 4,269 medical device patents, ranking second nationwide (2009-2013). Minneapolis-St. Paul also ranks second among the 30 largest US metropolitan areas in employment in medical device manufacturing -- nearly 27,000 workers (2012). 

Did You Know?

Do Minnesotans donate time? Check. Do Minnesotans donate money? Check again. Minnesota has the second highest percentage of charitable giving in the country, says this Gallup poll.

Volunteers

Recent Press Releases

State Exports at $20.7B in 2013
Minnesota companies exported $20.7B worth of manufactured, mining and ag products in 2013, according to DEED figures. Minnesota was 20th among states for export sales, matching its 2012 position.

Grant Funds Training for 270+ Benedictine Health System Employees
Funding will help MSC-Southeast Technical develop a new three-level training program for Certified Care Partner, an emerging occupation.  

DEED Awards DCTC Grant to Train 290 BTD Employees
Onsite training will improve employees' technical skills and help BTD meet increased productivity goals. DCTC will also use the training project to attract young women to manufacturing through their Teens Experiencing Technical Education program.

Recent Blog Posts

Rescue

Here we salute Minnesota's first-responders to small-business emergencies.

Serving Our Clients

Lori Thompson

Lori Thompson, with her companion Logan, has been working for the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy as an office specialist for nearly two years. She uses technology in her job, such as JAWS, OpenBook scanning and reading software, CCTV and Braille, to enable her to complete tasks. A Braille labelmaker is an easy assist for Thompson, who relies on Braille labels to keep files in order. And accommodations don’t have to be costly. Clear label tape? Two bucks. Slate and stylus? Maybe $20. Thompson had formal training, but went to State Services for the Blind for updates on JAWS and Windows. Thompson said her employer has an open mind and desire to see her succeed. SSB -- recognizing that each business is a unique organization with unique needs -- is a tremendous resource for employers. SSB can assist you in retaining long-time, well trained staff that may be experiencing vision loss. There's no cost to the employer in partnering with SSB.