April 2023
 Adult Career Pathways
Team Updates
The ACP Provider Training List for SFY22-23 is now posted! Categorized by industry sector, this is a list of projects funded through DEED’s Employment and Training Division, Adult Career Pathways during SFY22-23. Each provider listed is linked to their website for easy referral. Please reach out to Jenilee Drilling (Jenilee.drilling@state.mn.us) if updates or changes need to be made to the list.
We encourage Grantees and interested organizations to check out the DEED Competitive Grants and Contracts page for SFY24-25 programs. The site posts all outgoing grants, and each solicitation includes a brief description of work and a link to its Request for Proposals (RFP). Sign up to receive emails when new opportunities are listed. Another suggestion is to watch the legislative sessions as you can see what is being proposed and if/when it gets funded.
We continue to 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.
FREE MARKETING!! 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 MN Family Resiliency Partnership (MFRP) assists individuals who have spent a substantial number of years in the home providing homemaking services and have been dependent upon the financial support of another. For more information about the Minnesota Family Resiliency Partnership program check out DEED’s ACP webpage.
The ACP team encourages a collaborative approach to serving participants, when appropriate, to seamlessly meet the needs of participants and enhance a participant’s career goals. Co-enrollments are allowed within organizations and between organizations including participants receiving pre-employment services through one of the six MFRP providers across the state. Participants who are eligible for the MN Family Resiliency Partnership program are auto eligible to receive Dislocated Worker services to further their training and employment goals.
SNAP E&T 50/50
The SNAP E&T project can provide additional, unrestricted funds to your organization when partnered with your ACP Grant. If you serve SNAP recipients within your ACP program and are interested in more information about adding the SNAP E&T 50% Reimbursement program to your organization, please contact Ann Meyers at ann.meyers@state.mn.us.
Workforce One- ACP Programs
Workforce One (WF1) Sprint Review meetings are a great way to stay updated on the changes/updates made to the WF1 case management system and WF1 Connect mobile app. If you are interested in attending the live Sprint Review session, email Becca Johnson at becca.johnson@state.mn.us to receive an invitation to the next virtual meeting. To review the latest PowerPoint presentation, log in to: Workforce One—Resources--Workforce One News or to view the latest recording, follow the link on the WF1 login page.
Providers are required to enter all Workforce One data within 15 days of the occurrence. When determining past performance, it is important that each Grantee enter data in Workforce One in a timely manner. If you need further assistance with your data entry or are seeing discrepancies in your data, please reach out to your Program Coordinator.
Adult Career Pathways Guides
The ACP Operations Guide has been updated for March and posted to the ACP home page. 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.
 Dislocated Worker and Federal Adult Programs
Formula Funds – WIOA Adult, WIOA DW and State DW
Have you updated your local area DW Eligibility Policy to align with the State’s updated policies?
Updated policies are available on MN DEED website:
WIOA Dislocated Worker Eligibility Policy
State Dislocated Worker Eligibility Policy
PY20 WIOA Adult and Dislocated Worker Reallocated funds are now available. Please note that these funds must be expended by June 30, 2023. Any remaining/unused funds will be sent back to DOL.
Separate funding streams are available in WF1.
Quarterly Progress Report (QPR) is due April 30th (for period Jan - Mar 2023). A QPR is required if the grant is active.
PY21 funds must be used by June 30, 2023.
Submit any modifications or transfer requests by April 19th to allow time for processing.
Cost category adjustment is allowed on the final Reimbursement Payment Request (RPR) if the total expended does not exceed the total approved budget. However, the Admin cost category must not exceed 10% of total reimbursed.
Any remaining unused funds will be reallocated to Local Areas that have spent out their PY21 funds.
PY23 funding information will be coming soon. DOL expects to release a TEGL sometime in April. As you may be aware, we usually have a limited turnaround time to plan, process, and execute agreements/workplans.
To help us move contract paperwork forward quickly, please begin having conversations with your partners to complete sections that are not affected by the budget (e.g.: Narrative). Once the TEGL is released and allocations are available, you can finalize your paperwork and send it in.
Carry Forward Requests - Providers may request a waiver to carry forward more than 20% of their allocated PY22 funds into the second year of the grant using the provided template (attached). Providers who expend or obligate at least 80% of their PY22 formula funds by the end of the 4th quarter do not need a waiver.
Carry Forward Requests pertain to all formula grants: WIOA Adult, WIOA Dislocated Worker, and State Dislocated Worker
Submit waivers by June 2, 2023, to allow enough time for leadership approval and processing.
Waiver to Allow Self-paced Learning for Incumbent Worker Training Effective April 4, 2023
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)’s Dislocated Worker and Federal Adult Programs Team has received multiple requests from DW Program Operators to allow self-paced learning for Incumbent Worker Training. The current IWT policy states that self-paced learning is not allowed. However, after assessing the allowable activities in state and federal law regarding training for Incumbent Workers, DEED is approving a waiver to allow for self-paced learning for IWT. This waiver is in effect until the current IWT Policy is updated. Please save the attached memo in your records. DEED will closely monitor the impact this waiver and consult relevant stakeholder for additional recommendations/feedback as needed.
Mass Layoff Project
- Wells Fargo Home Mortgage layoff is the newest Project.
- The Wells Fargo Planning and Selection Committee has chosen MN Teamsters Service Bureau/MN Job Partners to serve impacted workers.
National Dislocated Worker Grants (DWGs)/ Disaster Relief Grants (COVID-19 and OMNI/Opioids)
- The Opioid DWG will be monitored by DOL the week of March 20, 2023: CMJTS and WDI were the two selected Local Areas.
- Quarterly Progress Report (QPR) is due April 20th (for period Jan - Mar 2023). A QPR is required if the grant is active.
- Both DWGs will be ending on June 30, 2023.
Converting Layoffs Into Minnesota Businesses (CLIMB)
Re-entry Pilot Grant
- Congratulations to the 13 organizations awarded Re-entry Pilot grants
- Contracting and program implementation activities are in progress.
Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)
- Grants Performance Management System (GPMS)
- All GPMS Training webinars, and Virtual Live Events are recorded and archived at WorkforceGPS. You can also access GPMS e-newsletters, other GPMS resources and related materials at the same site. The FAQ is a great resource for questions and answers already covered, so remember to always check it out when you have a question just in case it is already answered.
- The next GPMS Training is scheduled for March 31,2023 at 1:00 pm Central Time. This session will focus on the intake and eligibility process for new SCSEP Participants. Please register at WorkforceGPS .
Retaining Employment and Talent after Injury/Illness Network (RETAIN)
- MN RETAIN continues to scale its efforts across Minnesota. 950 people have enrolled!
- Do you or someone you know have an injury or illness that affects their work? Visit com to see if RETAIN could help!
- MN RETAIN has a new promotional video about the enrollment process
- DOL will be Monitoring the RETAIN project May 2-3, 2023
Question from the Field
QUESTION: Are the COVID-19 pandemic waivers for Employment and Training Program (ETP) lifted? These are all still listed on MN DEED website at https://mn.gov/deed/programs-services/etp/
ANSWER: No. COVID-19 pandemic-related waivers are still active. The virus is under better control currently, but COVID-19 is still a threat. Also, new strains continue to surface from time to time. Please work with participants on a case-by-case basis to provide any needed flexibilities.
Please email all requests, reports, and technical assistance questions to the Dislocated Worker Federal Adult Programs general email at dwfaprograms.deed@state.mn.us
Should you have any performance or data entry questions, please contact the Federal Adult Programs Performance Coordinator, Amy Carlson, at amy.carlson@state.mn.us.
 Trade Adjustment Assistance
Tax time
While only Unemployment/TRA and A/RTAA are taxable income for TAA customers, some students may receive a 1098-T from their training institution. The national TAA office indicates, “The training provider is to report the total cost of the program in Box 1 and Box 5. These amounts should, in nearly all cases should be identical. As such, the amounts would cancel each other out. This would mean the participant is not able to claim any relevant tax credits when filing. It also means the filing individual would not report the amount as excessive income.”
Summer Credits and TRA Eligibility for TAA Customers
To remain TRA eligible through summer, TAA participants must be full-time students (as defined by the school) and not have a break greater than 30 business days between classes. Minnesota State institutions define full-time for TAA students during the summer as six credits. The University of MN and private institutions have different criteria. DW Counselors, please have TAA participants check full- time requirements of their learning institutions if not attending a Minnesota State school. As always, send UI/TRA-related questions to deed.tra@state.mn.us
So, what happens when the school doesn’t provide degree focused classes during the summer? TAA asks students to explore options that will enhance their education or career. This may require taking an online course or taking a course from another institution that will transfer to the primary institution. TAA will pay tuition, books, and required fees of non-required classes but reserves the right to limit reimbursements for coursework that is merely satisfying the full-time credit requirement but not enhancing student education or career. For example, TAA may not pay for a digital camera for a Digital Photography class or athletic shoes for a walking class. Requests will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
Program Status
The TAA program has funding and continues to serve customers. Previous Partner Express newsletters include articles related to the phased termination that the TAA Program entered on 7/1/22.
Petitions
Petitions can still be filed, but DOL’s investigation is paused until Congressional action occurs. 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
Filed after July 1
- Torax Medical, St Paul
- Turck, Inc., Plymouth
- Ball Corp, St Paul
- Nordson Medical, Eagan
Please email all questions and customer applications to the Trade Adjustment Assistance general email at deed.taa@state.mn.us
 Monitoring
Monitoring Subgrantees
Does your organization subgrant your DEED award? If so, per Federal 2 CFR 200.329 (a), 20 CFR 683.410 (a) and State requirements MN OGM Policy 08-10 your organization is responsible for the monitoring of your subgrantees. DEED grantees are responsible for ensuring that subawards comply with Federal and State laws, statutes, and program guidance. This requirement is also incorporated into your grant terms and conditions regardless of funding source.
During DEED monitoring visits, organizations that subgrant DEED funds will be required to provide copies of your subcontracts as well as documentation of your subgrantee monitoring. Monitors will review your subgrantee monitoring schedule, monitoring tools, and issued reports. We recognize that our grantees may need resources to assist with monitoring of subgrantees and so we will be providing additional technical assistance around subgrantee monitoring in 2023.
DEED grantees are required to monitor their subgrantees to:
- Ensure the award is used for authorized purposes.
- Ensure compliance with Federal and State statutes, regulations, policies, and the terms and conditions of the subaward.
- Confirm performance expectations of the subaward are being achieved.
- Reconcile grant funds and expenses to ensure they are being appropriately applied to grant activities.
- Follow-up to ensure appropriate action is taken on any grant deficiencies.
The Monitoring Unit is Hiring
Join the Monitoring Team. Make a difference by helping MN Organizations facilitate job success. To apply, go to: https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/search-for-jobs/ and search for: Workforce Development Specialist 3. Deadline to apply is 4/18/23.
If you have questions about Monitoring content, please email shannon.rolf@state.mn.us
 Labor Market Information
One of the biggest changes to employment coming out of the pandemic is the huge increase in the percentage of people working from home. While not every job is able to be done remotely, the ability to work from home is a major recruitment factor for many positions. Our current tight labor market has made more employers open to remote work. According to U.S. Census Bureau survey results from February of 2023, almost one quarter of Minnesota workers worked from home at least three days each week. At that rate, Minnesota ranked 9th among the 50 states at 23.5%, well ahead of the U.S. average of 20.1%. Minnesota sticks out in the Midwest for the ability to work from home, with more than double the concentration seen in North Dakota (10.2%) and nearly double South Dakota (12.6%), and well ahead of Iowa (14.5%), Nebraska (16.2%), and Wisconsin (16.7%).
"The ability to work from home several days a week or every day is really a big attraction point for many people looking for work now," said Gina Meixner, a career counselor at DEED's CareerForce office in Bloomington. "Nearly half those who have the opportunity to do so want to remain working from home at least part of their work week. There's also an increase in interest among others who have not had the opportunity to work remotely, such as people currently working in-person jobs. Many people are willing to change careers to 'do anything' just for the chance to work from home. Wanting to avoid a commute, high gas prices and needing to address a lack of childcare are the biggest draws." Find out more about remote work in Minnesota in the article Working from Home is Working in Minnesota Economic Trends.
If you have questions about Labor Market Information, please email deed.lmi@state.mn.us
This newsletter is intended 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 to deed.taa@state.mn.us.
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