August 2018 Partner Express Newsletter

TAA Updates

  • Recent petition certifications:
    o   93904 Digi International—Eden Prairie, MN

TAA Fall Roundtable Survey - Your Voice is Important
TAA is offering DW counselor training, a.k.a. technical assistance, through “roundtables” this fall. The TAA Roundtables will take place in the metro area as well as locations in greater MN. Please stay tuned for an invite to take a short survey letting TAA know what content you would like covered. Hearing from you will help TAA tailor the Roundtable training. Thanks in advance for your participation.

TAA Reminders

  • Please put the worker name on grades or any communication sent to TAA that would normally only cite a student ID. This really helps TAA when sending multiple copies to the printer for TAA files.
  • Training Progress Reports—only the new form is recognized by TAA now. The old form was accepted through the completion of the spring 2018 semester. Remember that the entire form needs to be completed.
  • Submit training applications for customers who are starting this fall at least two weeks before the training start date in order for TAA to have time to review, obtain any additional documentation, and request purchase orders.

TAA Petition Certifications: When Workers Have Future Layoff Dates

When a TAA petition is certified and the workers are still employed but are at risk of layoff, there are a number of things to consider:

1.      The worker is eligible for DW because they are at risk and are “potentially” eligible for TAA benefits.

2.      The worker is only eligible if they remain with the trade affected employer until separated due to lack of work. It is important to know that:
                 a.      The worker cannot quit
                 b.      The worker cannot be fired

If either a or b occur, the worker will not be eligible for TAA benefits.

3.      While the worker is employed with the trade affected employer, the only TAA benefit available to that worker prior to separation due to “lack of work” is training. Other benefits become available once the worker is separated from the trade affected employer. 


Grants, Policy and Performance Update

SPNEG Closed June 30, 2018
Minnesota’s Sector Partnership Dislocated Worker Grant (SPNEG) closed on June 30, 2018. Congratulations to all of our partners who helped make this grant a success. We heard many great stories from around the state on the initiatives this grant helped kick start, as well as the numerous individuals who received assistance with finding employment. As a reminder, please make sure you’ve submitted your final invoices to DEED as quickly as possible for processing. If you have questions about how to close activities or submit final invoices, please contact Chelsea.s.georgesen@state.mn.us.

Fiscal Year 2018 End
PY17/FY18 closed on June 30, 2018, meaning many of our grants ended as well. We have noticed that many participants are still showing open activities on grants that have closed. Those activities should be closed and reopened using an active funding stream. Please contact Amy.Carlson@state.mn.us if you have any questions on how to open and close participant activities.

All PY18FY19 Workforce One Funding Streams Open
PY18FY19 funding streams in Workforce One for all formula grants are now active and can be accessed by providers and subcontractors. Instructions on how to access the funding streams are attached. Additional questions can be directed to Amy.Carlson@state.mn.us.

Upcoming Region V Federal Roundtable for DW/TAA/Rapid Response
DEED will be attending the upcoming Region V Roundtable for DW/TAA/Rapid Response the first week of September. The Roundtable will cover information pertaining to USDOL Updates, Co-Enrollment Strategies, ETPL, Data Validation, and multiple performance topics. If there are topics or questions you would like Minnesota to bring to the Roundtable, please send them to Chelsea.s.georgesen@state.mn.us by August 27, 2018.

Dislocated Worker/WIOA Adult Policy Updates
Thank you for all of the comments and questions we received on the draft policies for the DW and WIOA Adult programs. We are currently compiling, reviewing and responding to the comments, and expect to issue an FAQ and revised policies in the next few weeks. Please feel free to continue providing comments on policies at any point by contacting Chelsea.s.georgesen@state.mn.us


    Cameron Macht

    Corner On The Market

    With Cameron Macht 

    Regional Analysis & Outreach Manager
    Minnesota Dept. of Employment & Economic Development
    cameron.macht@state.mn.us
    320-441-6596

    Start Me Up: Self-Employment in Minnesota

    There were nearly 125,000 job openings reported by employers in Minnesota in last year’s Job Vacancy Survey, easily the highest number ever reported. Opportunities abound in industries like health care and social assistance, retail trade, manufacturing, and accommodation and food services. For the first time in the past decade, there was less than 1 jobseeker for every vacancy in the state, creating a tight labor market for employers.

    Figure 1. Jobseekers per vacancy

    Despite the record number of openings, not every job seeker wants to work for someone else. Instead, many people dream of being their own boss – and self-employment often becomes more attractive in a strong economy. With so many sectors of the economy expanding, a wide variety of people have decided to strike out on their own or supplement their regular job with a side hustle. 

    Map showing Minnesota and the change in nonemployers from 2006-2016

    However, self-employment activity is not captured in DEED’s Job Vacancy Survey or DEED’s Quarterly Census of Employment & Wages; it is only tracked through tax returns filed with the Internal Revenue Service. The U.S. Census Bureau uses data from the IRS to provide statistics on the number of nonemployers in every county, with 2016 data released last month.

    According to the nonemployer statistics – defined as businesses that have no paid employees and are subject to federal income tax – there were just under 404,000 self-employed businesses operating in Minnesota. The largest number were located in the largest counties – primarily the Twin Cities metro area and other metro areas in Greater Minnesota. 

    Different counties saw different shifts in the number and types of nonemployer establishments over time. After rising 18.8 percent, Hennepin County had the fastest increase in self-employment from 2006 to 2016; followed by Clay, Carver, Ramsey, and Lac qui Parle. Mahnomen County saw the fastest increase in the past year, rising 6.5 percent from 2015 to 2016 (see Map 1).

    More details about self-employment trends in Minnesota can be found at this interactive data tool on DEED’s website


    Success Story

    Jeff in front of a truck

    Jeff is a high school graduate who worked over 20 years in automotive parts management with various organizations. Once he found that there were limited local openings in his field, he decided to explore his long-standing dream, and start a business selling tools. He started looking into obtaining a small business loan, and purchasing a Matco Mobile Tool Franchise.

    Jeff had management and other skills, but had never owned a business before, he needed some guidance and direction in setting things up properly. When Jeff first met with his counselor David, from the Anoka County Dislocated Worker Program, they discussed MN CLIMB (Converting Layoffs into MN Businesses) in detail. This is a business consulting opportunity that is available to Dislocated Worker participants. It enables those interested in self-employment to determine concept viability, and obtain advice and guidance on vital set-up and operational functions while collecting Unemployment Insurance benefits.

    Jeff jumped into the process with gusto, and ultimately decided that he could indeed realize his dream. He obtained support and encouragement from his family and counselor, completed the loan process, obtained business consulting services and confidence from professionals at SCORE, purchased his own truck/traveling store. He has been busy ever since, establishing and growing his own business. 


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    UNIT DIRECTORY

    Jackie Buck-Director of Employer Services (Rapid Response), 651-259-7598
    Nancy Omondi-Director of Adult Programs (WIOA Adult, Dislocated Worker, TAA, and Career Pathways), 651-259-7525

    Rapid Response
    General RR Contact, 651-259-7537
    Marla Beaty-TAA Liaison, 218-259-1380
    Mo Malin-Senior Specialist, 651-259-7535
    Liz McLoone-Labor Liaison, 651-259-7145 
    Jason Wadell-Senior Specialist, 651-259-7552
    Mee Yang-Senior Specialist, 651-259-7548

    Dislocated Worker and Federal Adult Programs Team
    Chelsea Georgesen – Supervisor, 651-259,7508
    Amy Carlson – Performance Lead, 651-259-7542
    Karen Backlund – Monitor, 651-259-7559
    Monica Weber – Grants Specialist Senior, State Grants, 651-259-7560
    Claudia Ursulescu Kracht – Grants Specialist Senior, Federal Grants, 651-259-7532

    TAA
    General TAA Contact, 651-259-7543 or 888-234-1330
    Sarah Saito-TAA Supervisor, 651-259-7546
    Cindy Boyle-Senior TAA Specialist, 651-259-7551 
    Jennifer Anderson-TAA Specialist, 651-259-7690
    Mary Garcia-TAA Specialist, 651-259-7553
    Laurie Larson-TAA Specialist, 651-259-7681
    Thomas Sommer-TAA Specialist, 651-259-7585
    Jackie Umlauf-TAA Specialist, 218-739-7560
    Olajide Williams-TAA Specialist, 651-259-7431
    Trade Readjustment Allowance, 651-296-3644 or 877-898-9090 (ask for TRA Specialist)