August 2022

Dislocated Worker and Federal Adult Programs

WIOA DW, WIOA Adult, and State DW:

• QPR for period ending 6/30/22 was due on July 30th. Grantees are required to submit written progress reports quarterly until all grant funds have been expended and all the terms in the grant agreement have been met. Learn more at grants_policy_08-09_tcm36-207116 (mn.gov).
• Success Stories wanted. We are appreciative of the work you do for the people of Minnesota. Please submit stories about how you and your team are making a difference in people’s lives by sending us your stories, along with a completed release and consent form (alternate languages available upon request). Please also include a picture with each story, if possible. Sharing stories of impact is a great way to promote our programs and services. Thank you!

Questions From the Field:

Question: I am writing with a question about Minnesota's Dislocated Worker program, specifically the types of training that would be eligible for funding for an individual in the program. It is my understanding that in Minnesota, Dislocated Worker funds for Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) may come through the state program or the federal, WIOA program.  I understand that WIOA funds can only be used for WIOA certified trainings or non-credentialed trainings.  However, are trainings that are not WIOA certified, but otherwise meet training requirements specified for IWT and which are on the ETPL as non-WIOA offerings, eligible for some forms of state Dislocated Worker funding?   We're running into situations where some prospective students are being told by their Workforce Centers that they are ineligible for Dislocated Worker funding unless the training they want is WIOA certified, and I'm hoping to learn a little more about how this works.

Answer: WIOA and State Dislocated Worker funds can be used to support non-credentialed training as well as credentialed training if it’s on the Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL; WIOA Funds only) or MN Office of Higher Education’s (OHE) licensed, registered or exempt list (State Funds only). The courses do not have to be WIOA-certified to use WIOA funds.  

WIOA Certified training is training that has been deemed to be occupationally specific and at the end of that training one of two situations occur:

1. the institution itself awards the attained credential, or
2. the training institution includes all test fees within its training program costs so that the student can complete all requirements through that training program in order to attain the credential.

There is a lot of change in the field so it’s possible that some newer counselors may not be aware of this information.

Follow up Question:  This leads to another question - one thing I'm trying to get my brain around is why master's degrees / doctoral degrees are not considered "credentials" OR non-credentialed trainings.  We have been told by DEED that master's programs are not WIOA-eligible because the Dept. of Labor does not recognize them as industry-recognized credentials (which seems very weird to me, since there are many industries where a master's degree is the required credential), but it also appears that they would not be considered as non-credentialed training because, well, they DO result in a credential (issued by the postsecondary institution in question.)?  So, dislocated workers who want to enroll in one of our master's programs, such as our MBA, are told that the program is not eligible for funding because it's neither WIOA eligible nor a non-credentialed training. 

In general, we remain very confused about what constitutes a "non-credentialed training" for MN DLW funding purposes - or other workforce development type funding.  I can see the list of things that are NOT allowed to be considered (self-paced learning, safety courses, etc.), but none of those things apply to a master's or other post-bachelor's degree. We get questions from prospective students all the time around this, and I'd like to be able to give them better guidance. 

Answer: Graduate programs can still be supported by WIOA training dollars if it is on the ETPL but they are no longer considered credentialed trainings (they are now considered non-credentialed since 2016/WIOA Law was signed). The allowable training programs that can use WIOA funds have a yes in one of the two far right columns when you search the Career and Education Explorer (see example below). For any with a yes in the furthest to the right column titled “Non-credential Training”, they would not count in the credential attainment rate (that is tracked by the WIOA program).

If any “training” program has anything other than a yes in those columns, the workforce center can still assist the participant with the training cost (if it aligns with the participant’s employment plan and labor market data) but the coding is slightly different in the state’s case management system (Workforce One). I’m unsure of what led to the DOL change for graduate degrees being considered non-credentialed but the funding can still support these types of trainings.

Under WIOA, Graduate programs are considered non-credentialed training. We will need to check with Department of Labor regarding doctoral programs although it’s unlikely. In terms of what is considered non-credentialed, here’s how it’s defined in the ETPL policy:

Non-credentialed training: Training that enhances employability but does not in itself result in a credential. If the training program itself does not include a credential, the participant's training can still be funded through WIOA as non-credentialed training. Training programs that serve as prerequisites to taking exams or completing other courses that would then result in a credential fall under this non-credentialed training category. Trainings that are taken as continuing education to maintain a currently held credential - but do not result in an industry-recognized credential that the participant has not previously held - fall under this non-credentialed training category as well. Non-credentialed training does not count for or against the credential attainment rate in performance reporting, since a credential is not earned as part of that particular training.

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

Please join me in welcoming three new ACP Grant Coordinators to DEED! Kelly Kleppen, Meng Moua, and Zukiswa Mpande-Olson joined our team in July and are beginning to reach out to Grantees introducing themselves.

Please help us in congratulating Vanessa Roman on the birth of her baby girl on July 11^th! Vanessa and baby Rosalia are doing well, and we anticipate Vanessa’s return in early October. 

The ACP Coordinators continue to work with our Grantees to execute SFY23 Competitive contracts. The team encourages Grantees to work on these as soon as possible. We often must work back and forth with Grantees to get approved documents, so please do not wait to start working on these.

SFY22 Competitive contracts are being offered the opportunity to extend from September 30 to December 31, 2022. All organizations should have received an email from your Grant Coordinator. Please be sure to let your Coordinator know by August 5^th of your request to extend if necessary.

Quarterly reports are DUE for the quarter of April-June 2022! Each program’s quarterly report templates can be found on the ACP webpage under the appropriate program. If you have questions or need further guidance, reach out to your Coordinator.

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 ACP team has partnered with CareerForce MN to give our Grantees the opportunity to post their free trainings on the CareerForce website; https://www.careerforcemn.com/training-programs . This is an excellent opportunity to market your courses to the thousands of users that visit the site every month.  Feel free to reach out to the CareerForce help desk at careerforce@state.mn.us  to request access or any additional assistance.

Mn Family Resiliency Partnership

(Federally known as Displaced Homemaker Program)

The ACP Team is excited to announce that Workforce Development Inc. (WDI) has been chosen to begin providing services to MFRP eligible participants in the SE Minnesota area on July 1, 2022. WDI will join five current MFRP providers. For more information about the Minnesota Family Resiliency Partnership program check out DEED’s ACP webpage.

Workforce One- ACP Programs

We understand that many organizations have welcomed new staff recently. We encourage new staff to check out the ACP webpage, your program’s specific page, and view the two WF1 recorded training sessions to help get started.

The ACP Team updated the ACP Workforce One Guide is now posted to the ACP Webpage!

SNAP E&T 50/50

This program has reimbursed its Grantees over $55,000 so far in SFY22! If you are interested in adding SNAP E&T 50% Reimbursement program to your organization and have not heard from us, please contact Ann Meyers at ann.meyers@state.mn.us.

Adult Career Pathways Guides

Even during these busy times, the ACP team continues to update the Operations Guide posted at the ACP home page. This guide does NOT include measures implemented in response to COVID-19, which are listed separately. If you have any suggestions for the guide, please submit those to your Grant Coordinator.

Please contact your Adult Career Pathways Grant Coordinator directly with any questions regarding Adult Career Pathways Programs.

Trade Adjustment Assistance

A/RTAA Applications and Benefits

This impacts customers under BOTH 2015 Law and Reversion 2021. Although the Sunset Provision has determined RTAA and ATAA payments cannot be made unless the customer has received a payment before 6/30/2022, we recommend that you have the customer go ahead and complete the application. DW should then follow the usual process and submit the required documents to deed.taa@state.mn.us.  TAA/TRA will hold all A/RTAA applications in case something changes.

At this time, people would not be eligible for new A/RTAA benefits, unless that 1^st payment has already been made.

Note: If you’re enrolling a new customer into DW for the sole purpose of the customer accessing TAA benefits, the provider can leave the DW enrollment in pending status while TAA /TRA reviews the application. In the event TRA can’t approve the application, the DW enrollment can be backed out/rescinded without it affecting DW performance.

You are welcome to send us the names of any customers who are interested in applying for A/RTAA to confirm individual deadlines to apply.

Timing of DW and TAA closures/exits

TAA does need to review the individual’s Termination Date, and we’re unable to simply use the date we close TAA activities. Before closing the TAA file, and entering the final Termination Date, TAA Specialists need to confirm all payments have processed, they have appropriate documents (i.e. credential), and that TAA’s involvement in the file is complete. The Termination Date must be after all these events have passed.

Petitions

Here’s the link to check the status of petitions with U.S. Department of Labor 

https://www.doleta.gov/tradeact/petitioners/taa_search_form.cfm

Note: Under sunset provisions, all DOL investigations will end 6/30/22.

• Certified
  • 98319 - EcoWater Systems LLC, Woodbury
  • 98315 - BCS Automotive Interface Solutions, Winona

Please email all questions and customer applications to the Trade Adjustment Assistance general email at deed.taa@state.mn.us

Labor Market Information

By the Numbers – Labor Market Information

Our annual state-of-the-state issue of Trends provides an overview of Minnesota’s labor market changes and job growth and takes a close look at each of the state’s six regions.

A New Labor Market Era in the Metro Area - As we enter the summer of 2022, labor markets in the Twin Cities metro continue to navigate through uncharted territory.

The Labor Force at Large in Northeast - The decline of the labor force in Northeast Minnesota has been the story of the last two-plus years in our world of labor market analysis.

More Vacancies, Fewer Workers in Central Minnesota - More than two years after the pandemic halted the longest economic expansion in our history, Central Minnesota and the entire state have not yet recovered all the jobs lost during the two-month pandemic recession.

Southeast Minnesota Continues Thriving - As Southeast Minnesota’s economy emerges from the pandemic period, the labor market is getting back to normal.

Holding Back Growth in Southwest Minnesota - As Southwest Minnesota's economy continues to recover from the pandemic recession, the region's labor force constraints continue to hold back more robust growth.

Almost Back to Normal in Northwest - Of the six regions in the state, Northwest Minnesota is the closest to being back to their pre-pandemic normal.

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.