DEED Awards Grants to Assist Minnesotans With Disabilities

For Immediate Release
January 27, 2017

Contact: Shane Delaney, 651-259-7236
 shane.m.delaney@state.mn.us

DEED Awards Grants to Assist Minnesotans With Disabilities
~Three groups approved for more than $500,000 in funding~

ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) today announced more than $500,000 in grants to provide innovative employment options to advance community integration for people with disabilities.

The grants are a result of an RFP issued by DEED’s Vocational Rehabilitation Services program to Day Training and Habilitation providers.

“These grants will provide additional job training for Minnesotans with disabilities,” said DEED Commissioner Shawntera Hardy. “Participants will have access to competitive, meaningful and sustained employment in their community.”

Grant funds will be used to improve individual employment outcomes by aligning programs, funding and policies to support people with disabilities to choose, secure and maintain competitive employment, including self-employment, in integrated settings.

Organizations receiving the grants are:

Ally People Solutions (St. Paul) - $174,872

Kaposia Inc. (Little Canada) - $171,400

Minnesota Diversified Services Inc. (Minneapolis) - $174,813

The 2016 Minnesota Legislature approved funding for the grants in part to help meet some of the employment goals of Minnesota’s Olmstead Plan, which seeks to ensure that people with disabilities are living, learning, working and enjoying life in the most integrated setting.

DEED is the state’s principal economic development agency, promoting business recruitment, expansion and retention, workforce development, international trade and community development. For more details about the agency and its services, visit the DEED website or follow DEED on Twitter.

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Upon request, the information in this news release can be made available in alternative
formats for people with disabilities by contacting the DEED Communications Office at 651-259-7161.

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
Communications Office
Phone 651-259-7149 or 1-800-657-3858 ∙ TTY 1-800-657-3973
http://mn.gov/deed
An equal opportunity employer and service provider.