May 2022
 Dislocated Worker and Federal Adult Programs
National Dislocated Worker Grants (DWGs)
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Opioids – The Minnesota Initiative (OMNI) Program
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COVID-19 Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG)
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Period of Performance Extension through 6/30/2023 is currently in process.
DW Eligibility Policy
- DOL reviewed the WIOA DW Eligibility policy and provided comments in March 2022. There are still questions pending with the National Office. Once we receive a response, the policy will be released for public comment period.
- The State DW policy is under review internally. This will be released simultaneously.
- An email will be sent out to all partners upon release for public comment.
SCSEP
- RFP to be released to bring on two new providers.
- TEGL is pending.
WIOA DW, WIOA Adult, and State DW Funding
- PY22 WIOA Allocations: TEGL is pending; allocations will be sent out after the TEGL is released.
- State DW Formula: Preliminary allocations will be available mid-to-late May.
Minnesota Job Skills Partnership Board (MJSP) Meeting
- Scheduled for Monday, June 13, 2022; supplemental funding requests are due by May 13, 2022.
Carry Forward Requests
- Providers may request a waiver to carry forward more than 20% of their allocated PY21 funds into the second year of the grant using this provided template. Providers who expend or obligate at least 80% of their PY21 formula funds by the end of the 4th quarter do not need a waiver.
- Please submit your waivers by June 7th to allow enough time for leadership approval.
Quarterly Narrative Progress Report Due for Quarter Ending 3/31/2022
- Please be reminded that QNPR is due 30 days after quarter ends. Reports for quarter ending March 31, 2022 were due April 30, 2022. Use this provided template (if you have not yet submitted your report).
Questions from the Field
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QUESTION: Please clarify whether the Math/Reading assessments are still on “hold” (due to COVID) or if that hold has been lifted and the requirement is in place again for individuals in training who have not yet achieved at least an AA Degree.
- ANSWER: By now, most if not all participants should be able to take a math/reading assessment. The flexibility provided during the COVID pandemic was in cases where it was difficult or impossible to test a participant. If you have a specific case where the participant is not able to complete an assessment, let us know and we can work with you on what can be done.
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QUESTION: Is it possible to get a state license for The Work Number to verify employment status of clients? This would help for performance outcome information.
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ANSWER: Getting a state license will require additional engagement with other stakeholders so this will take time. However, grantees can consider getting this on their own and pay for it using a portion of their grants.
- If this is for wage reporting:
- The only time wages should be captured in WF1 (follow-up) is if the counselor knows those wages will not be reported by an employer to the Unemployment Insurance Division.
- If wages are captured in WF1 and also reported to UI, it will artificially inflate wages we report to the national office because WF1 wages and UI wages are added together for reporting.
- The only time DEED will not look for wages is if a neutral (exclusionary) exit reason is used. If a positive or negative exit reason is used we will look for wages. If wages are found, official performance is a positive. If wages are not found, official performance is a negative.
- Wages not reported to UI are Self-employment, federal employment, and military. These are the only types of employment you must capture wages in WF1’s follow-up or they will be negative in official performance. Wages entered into WF1’s follow-up are called “Supplemental Wages”.
- If you are uncertain (non-profits or small businesses) you can take a look at the CSWIR report available in WF1. That report has this definition: “The Candidates for Supplemental Wage Information Report (CSWIR) identifies persons who have exited and are not found in Minnesota Wage Detail (UI) or in other state Wage Detail (WRIS) systems. This report is used to assist with performance management for the Adult, Dislocated Worker, Youth, VRS, or WDU programs. Persons who have “Inquire” in any of the quarter columns in the report should be contacted to obtain qualifying, alternate proof of employment as they do not show up in Wage Detail or WRIS.”
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QUESTION: Can DEED update the website with the most recent forms: modification request, incumbent worker information for businesses?
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ANSWER: We will update the website with current forms in the upcoming weeks.
Please email all requests, reports, and technical assistance questions to the Dislocated Worker Federal Adult Programs general email at dwfaprograms.deed@state.mn.us
 Adult Career Pathways
Adult Career Pathways Team Updates
- Enock Kakuuku has transitioned into another role within DEED. Jenilee and Ann have taken over management of his Grantees in the interim. If you have questions regarding your projects, please feel free to email us; Jenilee.drilling@state.mn.us or ann.meyers@state.mn.us .
- Quarterly Report templates are posted to each program page on the updated ACP webpage. As a reminder, the reports are due the 30th of the month following the end of the quarter (April 30, July 30, October 30, January 30).
- CareerForce MN Training Programs list is an opportunity for Grantees to market training programs. We encourage our ACP Grantees to sign up at https://www.careerforcemn.com/training-programs
Legislative Direct Appropriation Grants
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Pay-for-Performance We encourage all Grantees to review our updated webpage and information within the Program Operations Guide for additional resources and information.
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Adult Direct Appropriation Managing your participants’ data within the updated funding streams will assist with accurate reporting with the additional Workforce One options.
Competitive Grants
- The ACP team anticipates beginning to send out Competitive contract workplan documents for SFY23 in late April/early May. We encourage Grantees to begin working on those as soon as possible in order for those to be executed by July 1, 2022.
- We encourage grantees to begin preparing for the end of COVID waivers. Please be sure to review the current waivers and reach out to your Coordinator if you have any questions.
- The team is currently in the process of reviewing the submitted proposals for the Internationally Trained Professionals RFP and anticipate an award notification on or around May 10, 2022.
- The Targeted Community Capital Project awards were announced Friday, March 25, 2022. An onboarding webinar was held on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, and we are currently scheduling one-on-one meetings with each Grantee to begin the contracting process. The ACP team is excited to see these projects begin!
Workforce One- ACP Programs
- Two Workforce One training sessions specific for ACP programs were held on February 22, 2022 (for Pathways to Prosperity providers only) and March 1, 2022 (for all other ACP providers). Both sessions were recorded and are now available for viewing on the ACP Webpage.
- Since the Pathways to Prosperity program was released as three programs for SFY22-23 (On-Ramp to Career Pathways, Bridge to Career Pathways, and Individual Training Pathway), entering training certificates/credentials are specific to the contract/program and should be entered only as outlined within your contracts. For example, if the bridge training is CNA, it is unnecessary to enter a separate training and certificate for First Aid/CPR. Those certificates would be part of the participant earning the Bridge CNA credential.
SNAP E&T 50/50
- This program has reimbursed its Grantees over $27,000 so far in SFY22! If you are interested in adding SNAP E&T 50% Reimbursement program to your organization, have not heard from me, please contact Ann Meyers at ann.meyers@state.mn.us.
MN Family Resiliency Partnership (Federally known as Displaced Homemaker Program)
“The Department of Employment and Economic Development, through its Employment & Training Division’s Adult Career Pathways programs, is seeking proposals from qualified responders to provide services to eligible Minnesota (Mn) Family Resiliency Partnership (federally known as Displaced Homemaker Program) adults in the Southeast region of Minnesota. Specifically, a responder to serve Houston, Fillmore, Mower, Winona, Olmsted, Dodge, Wabasha, Goodhue, Freeborn, Rice, and Steele counties.”
Adult Career Pathways Guides
Please contact your Adult Career Pathways Grant Coordinator directly with any questions regarding Adult Career Pathways Programs.
 Trade Adjustment Assistance
Roundtables
- Minnesota TAA hosted virtual Roundtables for Dislocated Worker Counselors April 11 and April 13, 2022.
- If/when the program is Reauthorized, TAA will offer robust technical assistance for all DW staff. Contact TAA any time your agency would like technical assistance for 2015 Law, Reversion 2021, or other TAA topics.
Benefits after Training
- Please remind customers, especially Spring graduates, about the Job Search Allowance and Relocation Allowance benefits available for interviews/relocations that are 15 miles or more from the customer’s home. Additionally, Reemployment Trade Adjustment Assistance is available to those who get a new job, are age 50+, are earning $50,000 or less, and are making less than their layoff wage. All applications are available on the Counselor Portal: https://mn.gov/deed/programs-services/dislocated-worker/counselors/forms/
Petitions
Please email all questions and customer applications to the Trade Adjustment Assistance general email at deed.taa@state.mn.us
 Labor Market Information
- We all know that the COVID-19 pandemic had a devastating impact on jobs, at least in the short term. But taking a deeper dive into each major industry, and subsectors within those industries, reveals the disparate impact the pandemic had on employment.
- After two long years dealing with COVID-19, employment in Minnesota is expected to continue to recover in both the short-term and the long-term, according to new projections from DEED. The state is projected to add about 170,000 jobs from 2020 through 2030.
- While the majority of Minnesota’s total jobs are held by white workers, recent and historical trends show the state’s workforce is becoming increasingly diverse. In fact, when compared to states with similar employment levels to ours, Minnesota had the most rapid growth of non-white workers between 2010 and 2020.
If you have questions about Labor Market Information, please email deed.lmi@state.mn.us
This newsletter is meant for DEED Grantees, Providers, and Employment Counselors. We want this e-Newsletter to meet your needs! We encourage you to send your comments and suggestions deed.taa@state.mn.us. Find past issues of Partner Express.
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