December 2018 Partner Express Newsletter

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays!

We appreciate each of you. 

ACP, DW, and TAA Teams

'Tis the Season for Retail

Highlighted by Black Friday and Cyber Monday, retail wasn’t just offering a huge number of deals this season; retailers are also providing a huge number of jobs. Retail trade employers in the state have reported about 20,000 vacancies in each of the past two survey periods, easily the highest number on record (see Figure 1).

Retail Trade Vacancies graph shows growth in vacancies from 2009 to 2018

The increasing number of vacancies is due in part to growth in retail trade employment, and also to the tight labor market. Many of these jobs have remained open for long periods of time as retailers have struggled to fill vacancies in a strong economy where jobseekers have access to many other opportunities. Retail Trade has responded by improving the quality of the jobs available – for example, median wage offers have climbed 56.8 percent in the past five years – from $8.22 per hour in 2013 to $12.89 in 2018 (see Figure 2).

Retail Trade cacacies show rising media wage and percentage of workers part time fluctuating

Many jobseekers value the flexibility that comes with retail employment, but the percentage of jobs that are part-time was also changing – less than half of the vacancies were part-time in 2018. Many retail jobs are also seasonal, allowing jobseekers to work during the busy times to earn extra money. In addition to the cash, most retail jobs also teach valuable job skills including customer service, teamwork, and problem solving. With a multitude of vacancies, jobseekers might like to see what’s in store for them in retail.


TAA Updates

Recent petition certifications:

  • 94001 – Tempur Sealy International Inc.

TAA Fall Roundtables

This fall, TAA hosted Roundtables in 10 locations around Minnesota over a period of four weeks. Thank you to the approximately 160 people who attended the TAA Roundtables! The TAA team thoroughly enjoyed meeting many Dislocated Worker Counselors and staff around the state. Here are a few follow-up items:

  • Watch for a survey via email
  • The training application is updated with your suggestions and will be soon posted on the Counselor Portal https://mn.gov/deed/programs-services/dislocated-worker/counselors/
  • Copies of the PowerPoints and resources will soon be added to the Counselor Portal
  • If you traveled 15 miles or more one-way, or paid for parking, TAA can assist!
    • Travel must be at least 15 miles one-way from eligible attendee’s home or office, whichever is closer to the Roundtable address
    • Providers will need to reimburse eligible attendees first, then providers need to submit an invoice prior to December 14, 2018, to deed.taa@state.mn.us to be reimbursed. Providers: when invoicing TAA include a
      • Map for each attendee showing the mileage (if carpooling, only one map is needed for the group) and,
      • Copy of the parking receipt, if applicable

Thank you

TAA recognizes that you do tremendous work to help Minnesotans return to work and we would like to thank you for your commitment and compassion. Feel free to contact us with any questions related to TAA; we are here to help!


Performance Updates:

Measurable Skill Gains Reminder

If you have a participant attending training remember to enter at least one Measurable Skill Gain (MSG) into Workforce One (WF1) every fiscal year in which that participant is attending training. If MSGs are not entered every fiscal year it will have a negative impact on performance outcomes.

Differences between training related performance indicators

  • MSGs are captured in WF1 while the participant is attending training. (see below instructions)
  • Credentials are captured within the “Credential” tab of WF1 after the participant finishes training.

MSG Definitions

  • Educational Functioning Level: Documented achievement of at least one educational functioning level of a participant who is receiving instruction below the postsecondary education level;
  • Secondary or Post-Secondary Transcript: Secondary or postsecondary transcript or report card for a sufficient number of credit hours that shows a participant is meeting the State unit’s academic standards;
  • Training Milestone: Satisfactory or better progress report, towards established milestones, such as completion of OJT or completion of one year of an apprenticeship program or similar milestones, from an employer or training provider who is providing training; or
  • Skills Progression: Successful passage of an exam that is required for a particular occupation or progress in attaining technical or occupational skills as evidenced by trade-related benchmarks such as knowledge-based exams.

How to enter MSGs in WF1

  1. Log into WF1
  2. Hover over “Search” in the top panel
  3. Click on “Person”
  4. Search for your participant then click on their name
  5. Once in the participant’s case
  • Click on “Reporting Collection” within the side panel of the record
  • Click on “Edit” within the Action column
  • Click on “Add New Measurable Skill”
  • Select the accurate “Measurable Skill Type” related to the documentation received from your participant (make sure to keep a copy for the case file)
  • Educational Functioning Level
  • Secondary or Post-Secondary Transcript
  • Training Milestone
  • Skills Progression
  • Enter the “Attainment Date” your participant received the gain
  • Click “OK”
  1. All captured MSGs for the participant’s program enrollment are viewable in the “Reporting Collection” screen (most recent on bottom)
  2. All captured MSGs can be edited and/or deleted by the assigned case manager

The Office of Adult Career Pathways (ACP)

The Office of Adult Career Pathways coordinates and manages State Funded Competitive grants, the Displaced Homemaker Program (DHP), and legislative Direct Appropriations. ACP also works, in partnership with the Department of Human Services (DHS), with the SNAP 100% and SNAP 50/50 grants.

 

Staffing News:

Hello - We have a new Grant Coordinator! Vanessa Roman joined us on November 14th, and we are delighted to have her! Vanessa comes to us from Hennepin Technical College where she has been creating open enrollment, non-credit, career path focused training programs. In that role Vanessa also partnered with employers across the state to design incumbent worker training. Prior to that she was a Counselor with Anoka County, helping at-risk individuals prepare for self-sufficiency. Vanessa has a background with both DHS and DEED grants. Welcome, Vanessa!

Cynthia (Cindy) Boyle joined us on November 19th, and is enthusiastically taking on the role of Program Monitor. You may already know Cindy, as for the past five plus years she worked as a DEED Senior Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Specialist. Cindy brings a wealth of knowledge and perspective to this team. Prior to joining TAA, Cindy was a Dislocated Worker Counselor with multiple DEED Grantees. She is looking forward to fully stepping into her new assignment!

 

Grant Responsibilities

With a change in staff, comes a change in assigned Coordinators. Until we are fully staffed:

  • Ann Meyers is supporting the following grants: SNAP 50/50, Support Services, and Women’s Economic Security Act (WESA). Ann can be reached on 651 259- 7174 or at ann.meyers@state.mn.us.
  • Amy Miller is supporting the Displaced Homemaker Program, Legislative Direct Appropriations, and The Capacity Building grant. Amy can be reached on 651 259-7575 or amy.e.miller@state.mn.us.
  • Cindy Boyle is a Program Monitor. She will be monitoring all ACP grants types. Cindy can be reached on 651 259-7596 or cynthia.boyle@state.mn.
  • Lynn Dahn works closely with DHS to make sure the SNAP 100% grant runs smoothly. Lynn can be reached on 651 259-7529 or Lynn.Dahn@state.mn.us.
  • Mimi Daniel continues to support our 57 Pathways to Prosperity grants. Mimi can be reached on 651 259-7581 or mimi.daniel@state.mn.us.
  • Vanessa Roman is working on SNAP 50/50 and Southeast Asian Economic Disparities Relief. Vanessa can be reached on 651-259-7578 or at vanessa.roman@state.mn.us.

These assignments will shift as our team grows.

 

Grant Updates:

Quarterly Reports

If you are the recipient of a Southeast Asian Economic Disparities Relief, Support Services, or Women’s Economic Security Act (WESA) grant, one of our team members will be reaching out to you to introduce you to our new Quarterly Report template.

Technical Assistance

  • We are reaching out to Grantees (or responding to you as you reach out to us) to offer up-front technical assistance. Grant Coordinators and Monitors have gone out/are going out to Grantees to provide technical assistance.
  • As a reminder to P2P Grantees who have MJSP funding as part of their P2P grants: Use MJSP funding streams only for participants who:
    • have attested to having an income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guideline AND
    • are in MJSP approved (see your workplan) training.

You must open a P2P funding stream in WF1 for all other activities.

Thank you

We continue to thank you for your patience as we transition into becoming fully staffed.


UNIT DIRECTORY

Marc Majors – Deputy Employment and Training Programs Director, 651-259-7595

Nancy Omondi-Director of Adult Programs (WIOA Adult, Dislocated Worker, TAA, and Adult Career Pathways), 651-259-7525

Jacqueline Buck-Director of Employer Services (Rapid Response), 651-259-7598

 

Adult Career Pathways Team

Cindy Boyle - Monitor - Displaced Homemaker Program, Capacity Building, SE Asian, WESA, Support Services 651-259-7596

Lynn Dahn - Employment and Training Program Coordinator, SNAP 100% - 651-259-7529

Mimi Daniel - Grant Coordinator, P2P, SNAP 50/50 - 651-259-7581

Ann Meyers - Grant Coordinator, SNAP 50/50, WESA, Support Services - 651 259- 7174

Amy Miller - Monitor /Coordinator – Displaced Homemaker Program, Legislative Direct Appropriations, and Capacity Building - 651-259-7575

Claire Nelligan - Supervisor - 651-259-7573

Vanessa Roman - Grant Coordinator, SNAP 50/50, Southeast Asian-651-259-7578

Vacant - Monitor

Vacant - Grant Coordinator

 

Dislocated Worker and Federal Adult Programs Team

Lensa Idossa – Supervisor, 651-259-7509

Amy Carlson – Performance Coordinator, 651-259-7542

Thomas Sommer - TAA Performance and Financials Specialist, 651-259-7585

Claudia Ursulescu Kracht – Grants Specialist Senior, Federal Grants, 651-259-7532

Heather Moore – Grants Specialist Senior, State Grants, 651-259-7560

Kokulo James Supuwood – Monitor, 651-259-7586

Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Team

General TAA email: deed.taa@state.mn.us, 651-259-7543 or 888-234-1330

Sarah Saito - Supervisor, 651-259-7546

Olajide Williams - Senior TAA Specialist, 651-259-7431

Jennifer Anderson - TAA Specialist, 651-259-7690

Mohamed Farah - TAA Specialist, 651-259-7505

Mary Garcia - TAA Specialist, 651-259-7553

Laurie Larson - TAA Specialist, 651-259-7681

Ann Malz – TAA Specialist, 651-259-7593

Claudette Parchment-Roehrich - TAA Specialist, 651-259-7516

Jaclyn Umlauf - TAA Specialist, 218-739-7560

Trade Readjustment Allowance: deed.tra@state.mn.us 651-296-3644 or 877-898-9090 (ask for TRA Specialist)

 

Rapid Response Team

General RR Contact, 651-259-7537

Jason Wadell - Coordinator, 651-259-7552

Marla Beaty - TAA Liaison, 218-259-1380

Liz McLoone - Labor Liaison, 651-259-7145 (on leave through January 2019)

Mee Yang - Senior Specialist, 651-259-7548

John Mohs – Senior Specialist, 651-259-7535

Laura Dale – Senior Specialist, 651-259-7519