In the News

Center to Focus on Education, Careers
Minnesota Public Radio-3/15/15
A $6.4 million center in north Minneapolis will give students a chance to earn a high school diploma or a GED. College credit opportunities, career certification, internships and apprenticeships also will be available.

Making a Case for Construction Careers
Duluth News Tribune-3/10/15
Construct Tomorrow, a concept that started in the Twin Cities last year, overtook the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center hall for a first-of-its-kind event in Duluth last week. The interactive event featured a welding simulator, the chance for students to run electrical wire, tests of hammering acumen and actual bricklaying.

What to Do After the Layoff Notice
St. Paul Pioneer Press-3/15/15
The economy may be improving, but that doesn't mean layoffs have stopped, as witnessed at Target Corp. in downtown Minneapolis last week. Career consulting specialist Amy Lindgren offers a 16-point list of what people need to do after they receive a layoff notice.

Mankato Tops Metros in Job Growth
KEYC-TV-3/10/15
Jobs in the Mankato metropolitan area grew 2.1 percent in the past year, according to figures released by DEED last week. Mankato outpaced the state's four other metropolitan statistical areas in the Twin Cities, Duluth, St. Cloud and Rochester.

Did You Know?

Minnesota, Massachusetts, Vermont and Maryland top the list of places that are most beneficial to women’s health, economic success and social well-being, according to an  analysis by WalletHub, a personal finance social network.

Recent Press Releases

January Jobless Rate at 3.7 Percent
The Minnesota unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.7 percent in January, but employers eliminated 7,900 jobs, largely in the trades, transportation and utilities sector. Over the year, the state has gained 36,124 jobs, and the unemployment rate remains at a 14-year low.

Design Ready Controls Plans Expansion
Design Ready Controls Inc., a manufacturer of electrical control panels for original equipment manufacturers in the HVAC, oil and gas, water and alternative energy markets, plans to add 25 jobs in a $9.5 million expansion of its Minnesota operations. The company, currently based in northeast Minneapolis, plans to build a 100,000-square-foot facility in Brooklyn Park.

DEED Approves Funds for Smiths Medical
Smiths Medical, an Arden Hills-based medical device maker that announced plans late last year to move its headquarters to Plymouth, has been approved for $877,133 in funding from the Minnesota Job Creation Fund. The company plans to create 162 jobs and invest $7.54 million.

Recent Blog Posts

Since 2010, almost $248 million has been invested in more than 280 Minnesota startup businesses under DEED's Angel Tax Credit Program. A new video on DEED's website explains how the program works. Go here to see it.

Serving Our Clients

DEED's Vocational Rehabilitation Program last year touched the lives of 18,459 Minnesotans with disabilities. Of that number, 2,869 people obtained employment, an increase of 131 from the previous year. Facts, figures, data and success stories about the program are featured in the 2014 annual report published by the Minnesota State Rehabilitation Council. The report can be found here.