February 2025
 Staffing Update
Please help us welcome our newest ACP Grant Coordinator, Darcy Hokkanen! Darcy started her position at DEED on December 11, 2024. She comes to the team with a wealth of experience and knowledge working on training programs and with participants. Her insight will be beneficial as our team continues to work closely with Grantees.
Transformative Career Pathways Capacity Building RFP
The Office of Adult Career Pathways is soliciting applications for the Transformative Career Pathways Capacity Building grant program from eligible Minnesota community-based organizations to increase their capacity to provide workforce services and related training to high-unemployment, low-educational attainment or low-income communities. Applications will be accepted on a continual basis until all funds have been awarded.
We encourage you to review the RFP and apply if you fit the eligibility and are interested in the opportunity. We also encourage you to share this opportunity with your partners or small business partners. Awards for this program will be conducted on a quarterly basis until all funds have been awarded.
The link to the RFP can be found at DEED’s Competitive Grants and Contracts webpage: https://mn.gov/deed/about/contracts/open-rfp.jsp
Reminder: SFY 2024 Funds Expire June 30, 2025
State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2024 funds expire on 06/30/2025 and cannot be extended past that date. If funds are left on the first half of your grant after the June 2025 Reimbursement Payment Request (RPR) is submitted, those funds will expire and no longer be available for your grant. We will also be reviewing performance and expenditures and reaching out to grantees who are not on track. Please ensure Workforce One data entry is up to date and submit any outstanding RPR/FSR’s as soon as possible. All grantees should have invoices submitted through January 2025 at this time.
Employer Engagement Team
DEED’s Employer Engagement team is fully staffed now with one specialist in each region of the state, and they are meeting with employers and ACP grantees across Minnesota to hear successes, needs, and ideas. The team’s mission is to increase the number of high-wage, high-growth job opportunities for underserved job seekers. The team is available to meet with you! Find individual contact information at https://www.careerforcemn.com/find-your-employer-engagement-specialist or email Employer.Engagement.DEED@state.mn.us with dates and times that work for you. Together we can maximize success.
Adult Career Pathways Webpage
Quarterly Provider Meeting notes (Competitive and Drive for 5) are now posted on our webpage.
Check out the ACP home page for resources and tools to assist in the management of ACP Grants.
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ACP Operations Guide
- Updated the Assessment section to reflect updated Workforce One selections (pg. 9); Added required ACP documents to the Workforce One – EDS section (pg. 42); Changed Work Experience section title to Work Experience/Work-Based Learning Opportunities; Experiential Learning Opportunities and expanded the definitions (pg. 40); Updated Eligibility section for SSN (pg. 17).
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ACP Provider Map – Please review and if you are not included, but would like to be, reach out to your Coordinator.
Grantee Spotlight
Minnesota Technology Association’s mission is to build a more vibrant, innovative, and inclusive technology ecosystem in Minnesota by enabling the connections, public policies, and partnerships needed to help our tech community thrive. MnTech is comprised of over 200 member companies and 36 board members across Minnesota’s most impactful companies. Member companies work across the spectrum of technology, including IT, advanced manufacturing, life sciences, fintech, ag tech, cleantech, and edu tech.
MnTech’s main areas of impact include Advocacy, Talent, and Community. MnTech advocates for the partners and public policies that will have far-reaching, positive impacts on those working in Minnesota tech. One of MnTech’s strategic imperatives is helping Minnesota’s technology-driven companies inspire, hire, develop, and retain exceptional talent. Their recent 2024 Tech Talent Report provides a look at the supply and demand of technology talent in the state of Minnesota, as well as the challenges and opportunities. As a member-based organization, MnTech strives to create, share, and facilitate opportunities for professionals, industry influencers, and organizations to engage in meaningful ways. Communities offered by MnTech include Women Leading in Technology, Jumpstart, Tech Talk, and Tech Careers 1.0. Formerly known as the Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTS), the organization works to ensure that Minnesota’s technology-driven companies have access to exceptional talent, dedicated public policy advocates, and part of an innovative, inclusive technology community.
Training Program Finder
Did you know that there is free marketing of no-cost training programs on the CareerForceMN.com Training Program Finder?
Check out the Training Program Finder on CareerForceMN.com—and make sure to add your no-cost training opportunities to this easily searchable listing.
The Training Program Finder page gets thousands of views a month!
Partners using this tool to promote their training programs have told us they’ve seen an increase in enrollment.
For information about how to get your training programs listed on the Training Program Finder on CareerForceMN.com:
Want to share with us why you use (or don’t use) the Training Program Finder?
Please contact your Adult Career Pathways Grant Coordinator directly with any questions regarding Adult Career Pathways Programs.
 Staffing Updates:
Frederick Nah’s last day with DEED was 1/17/25. The grants he managed have been assigned to the following coordinators:
- Re-entry grants – Enock Kakuuku
- SLIGS/Mass Layoff Projects – Rita Apaloo
WIOA Adult and DW:
PY25 WIOA Dislocated Worker and Adult Estimated Funds
 If needed in an alternative format, please contact, dwfaprograms@state.mn.us
 If needed in an alternative format, please contact, dwfaprograms@state.mn.us
State Dislocated Worker Program (DW):
State DW Eligibility Expansion
WorkforceOne enrollment is now open to enroll the 3 new populations that could now be served under the expanded Dislocated Worker Program criteria. Please reach out to DWFAP team with ongoing questions. The webinar recording and additional resources can be found on the Office of DWFAP web page under the “Training” tab: https://mn.gov/deed/programs-services/dislocated-worker/dislocated-worker/resources/.
Retaining Employment and Talent After Injury/Illness Network (RETAIN):
- The RETAIN program continues to enroll participants during the sustainability phase. Please continue to refer eligible individuals for eligibility assessment.
- Please let us know of employer events your organization is hosting in 2025 for partnership opportunities, contact info@mnretain.com.
- The Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) is in startup phase. The DIF supports innovative activities that promote Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) for youth and adults with disabilities.
Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP):
- SCSEP Department of Labor (DOL) PY2023 Monitoring: DEED has received the Federal Monitoring from the recent DOL monitoring of the SCSEP and SCSEP IT grant. Response to the report is due 2/17/2025.
- PY2023 Participant and Host Agency Survey: The survey is currently in progress. The first wave of PY 2023 participant surveys was mailed on Monday, December 9, 2024. Two additional waves will be sent at 3–4-week intervals to participants who have not responded.
- Minnesota SCSEP Performance for PY2023: Minnesota achieved aggregate performance of at least 80% of its goal.
- GPMS Newsletter: Check out the SCSEP GPMS e-Newsletter January 2025 Issue Volume 2.
- Federal Poverty Guidelines for 2025: HHS has published the 2025 federal poverty guidelines, effective 1/15/25. GPMS users will be notified as soon as the guidelines are uploaded in the system.
- Next quarterly meeting is scheduled for February 20, 2025. Please reach out to your SCSEP Coordinator, Enock Kakuuku if you have not received an invite yet. Performance and Accountability
Performance and Accountability
Should you have performance or data entry questions, please contact the Performance general email performanceap.deed@state.mn.us
Questions from the Field:
(Questions about using State Dislocated Worker training funds)
Q: Are we allowed to use training funds for institutions that are not listed on the ETPL or OHE?
A: Training services paid for using state Dislocated Worker funds must be licensed, registered, or legally exempt by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE) or other appropriate state agency. Keep in mind, if a training institution is listed on the ETPL, it has already been deemed a legitimate/compliant training institution by OHE.
Q: We are getting more requests for training from institutions that are accredited with the Higher Learning Commission. Some of the institutions through HLC have programs that are on the ETPL, and others are not.
A: If they are not yet listed, we recommend local areas refer the institution to the ETPL Administrator (etpl.deed@state.mn.us) for instructions on how to apply. Once the formal request is received, they will be contacted and informed of next steps.
Q: When using training that is not listed on the ETPL, can it still qualify as Classroom/Credentialed training when the training results in a certification?
A: The definition of credentialed/non-credentialed training does not change based on what DW funding source is being used to fund it. Credentialed training still needs to be occupationally specific and end in an industry recognized credential. Non-credentialed training is Occupationally specific but does not end in an industry recognized credential. This is the main reason we recommend using trainings listed on the ETPL because they have already been investigated and the level of training has already been officially determined for you.
Q: If using a training that does not end in a certification and is not listed on the ETPL, can it be classified as Non-Credentialed training? Example, the Quality Inspector program through Hennepin Tech.
A: Non-credentialed training is Occupationally specific but does not end in an industry recognized credential. This institution is already listed on the ETPL. All they would need to do is add the program. At that time, the ETPL Administrator will investigate the program, its related Labor Market Information (LMI), and determine its level of 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.
 Staffing Updates
Sarah Saito started a new position on January 29. Contact the general Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) email (deed.taa@state.mn.us) or phone (651-259-7543) with TAA questions.
Virtual Informational Session February 12
Minnesota Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) hosts virtual informational sessions and refers attendees to enroll in the Dislocated Worker (DW) program to access their TAA benefits. The sessions are for people who may be eligible to apply for TAA benefits under older petitions. Thank you in advance for your work to serve these shared customers, some of whom may have been laid off under a TAA petition years ago. The next session is February 12 and the link to the session is at https://www.careerforcemn.com/TAA.
TAA Program Status and Funding
The TAA program has funding and continues to serve customers. Congress has not reauthorized the program but could reauthorize it at any time. For customers who are eligible under older petitions and seeking training, TAA must be the primary source of funding. Contact TAA with outreach suggestions or to ask about an individual’s eligibility, and use the resources available for Counselors and Services Providers.
TEGL 07-23 - Ongoing Operations of the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for Workers Program During Phase-Out Termination is available at TEGL 07-23 | U.S. Department of Labor (dol.gov).
Petitions
Petitions can still be filed, but Department of Labor’s investigation is paused until program restoration or reauthorization. To see the list of petitions in Minnesota filed after July 1, 2022, visit the Certified and Pending TAA Petitions on the CareerForce site.
Please email all questions and customer applications to the Trade Adjustment Assistance general email at deed.taa@state.mn.us.
 Share your perspectives on the current job seeker experience
DEED staff, LWDA staff and workforce development partners are all encouraged to share your valuable perspectives via this short survey on the general experience of job seekers you are serving now!
More than 150 workforce development professionals from across Minnesota already have shared their thoughts. This survey closes February 7.
Compiled survey results will be shared with workforce development system leaders, as a blog post on CareerForceMN.com, potentially used in materials shared with media and in other ways. Any personal or other identifying information you share about yourself (you can choose to remain anonymous) will be seen by survey managers; it will not be shared with others. Please do not include any personal or identifying information about job seekers in your survey response.
Thank you for your time!
If you have questions, please contact rita.beatty@state.mn.us
Contact the CareerForce Information and Assistance line at 651-259-7500 or careerforce@state.mn.us if you have questions.
 The December edition of Minnesota Economic Trends includes articles that introduce a new data tool to help students and counselors make informed high school course choices, summarize updated poverty rate measures, compare regional industry and occupational employment trends, describe Minnesota’s outdoor recreation industry, and analyze employment in the long-term care sector.
Technical Education in Minnesota High Schools: To maximize the benefits of participation in Career and Technical Education (CTE) high school courses, students must transition into employment opportunities relevant to their chosen career pathway or combine their initial training with a postsecondary credential. A new tool helps students and counselors make informed course choices by exploring the earnings, leading industries of employment, and postsecondary education paths taken by students with similar course-taking histories. It can also help program planners evaluate the alignment of their programs with business needs in their region.
Poverty Rates in Minnesota: Updated American Community Survey data on poverty in 2023 indicate that Minnesota has among the lowest poverty rates in the nation overall and for a number of key groups, including families and children. However, these data also point to areas of concern for the state, specifically poverty rates for Black or African American, American Indian and Hispanic or Latino Minnesotans.
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 to deed.taa@state.mn.us.
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