March 2025
 Transformative Career Pathways RFPs
The Office of Adult Career Pathways is soliciting applications for the two Transformative Career Pathways programs:
- Capacity Building to eligible Minnesota community-based organizations to increase their capacity to provide workforce services and related training to historically underserved communities of color or low-income communities. Applications will be accepted on a continual basis until all funds have been awarded.
- Diversity and Inclusion training to eligible Minnesota Small Businesses to increase their ability to engage, hire, and retain people of color in a variety of roles.
We encourage you to review the RFPs and apply if you fit the eligibility and are interested in the opportunity. We also encourage you to share these opportunities with your partners or small business partners. Awards for these two programs will be conducted on a quarterly basis until all funds have been awarded.
The link to the RFPs can be found at DEED’s Competitive Grants and Contracts webpage: https://mn.gov/deed/about/contracts/open-rfp.jsp
File Management Update: Electronic Document Storage
Effective July 1, 2025, all local state and federal Employment and Training Program Partners must transition from paper (hard) copy participant files to maintaining electronic participant records using Workforce One (WF1), which includes the upload of all required participant source documentation (including all participant eligibility documents, employment plans, and support services documentation) into Electronic Document Storage (EDS) also known as Document Summary within WF1.
Reminder: Exits to Unsubsidized Employment
When exiting participants with the exit reason, “Exits to Unsubsidized Employment,” please use this as the primary exit reason only. If a participant has entered new employment or has received a promotion or increase in wage because of training and is no longer in need of support, “Exit to Unsubsidized Employment” is the only appropriate exit reason to use. Do not use this exit reason when a participant retains the same employment, position, or wage that was held at time of enrollment. Please note that this does not pertain to MFRP enrollments.
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.
Grantee Spotlight
Initiative Foundation has launched a new clean economy training and employment endeavor in partnership with Leech Lake Tribal College, Leech Lake Financial Services, Region 5 Development Commission, Rural Minnesota CEP, Inc., and the Clean Energy Resource Team from the University of Minnesota. The goal of the initiative is to provide up to eighteen members of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and/or the local community training for employment in the construction of energy-efficient tribal housing and energy efficiency work at Cass Lake-Bena Schools. Participants receive workforce training, career development, workers’ rights training, culturally appropriate job readiness training, and employment placement. Thus far, fourteen participants have obtained OSHA 30 certification and two hours of electrical training. Electrical training enables students to be registered with the MN Department of Labor and Industry as the first step toward becoming a licensed electrician through on-the-job experience. After training, individuals are placed in a 160-hour paid internship with Habitat for Humanity or Tribal Housing Authority to work on projects related to energy efficiency. Public utilities and private construction firms, as well as the housing industry, are likely to find the skills and on-the job-experience gained in this project highly desirable. Students involved in the training will receive industry and peer to peer mentorship to assist them in obtaining full-time employment upon completion of training. This training and employment effort is part of Initiative Foundation’s mission “to empower people throughout Central Minnesota to build a thriving economy, vibrant communities, and a lasting culture of generosity.”
Please contact your Adult Career Pathways Grant Coordinator directly with any questions regarding Adult Career Pathways Programs.
 WIOA Adult and DW:
The Dislocated Worker and Federal Adult Programs Office has posted seven policies for a 30-day public comment period. Comment period is open through March 4, 2025.
- Career Services Allowable Activities
- Definition of Economic Self-sufficiency and Income Exclusion
- Incumbent Worker Programs
- Requests for Supplemental Funding to Serve Small Layoffs
- Supporting Services and Follow-up Services Allowable Activities
- Training Services Allowable Activities
- Title 1 WIOA Integrated Exit Policy – under the multiprogram section
The policies incorporate various updates and changes that are required as well as recommendations received from partners. Comments can be submitted by clicking the “Send a comment” function or by sending comments to dwfaprograms.deed@state.mn.us.
- The Grants Team has started meeting with grantees to review PY24 State DW, WIOA Adult and DW grants. From August to December 2024, the team focused on PY23 grants and met with all sixteen workforce development areas (WDAs), including 60 staff representatives. The goal is to provide opportunities for listening, discussion and collaboration, to be proactive in addressing any issues, providing additional support, and enhancing grant success. The feedback has been positive and encouraging for everyone. Please be on the lookout for communication on scheduling, if you have not yet received it.
Mass Layoff Projects:
- State Rapid Response Team (SRRT) received a WARN letter on 12/3/24, from Cargill, of the permanent layoffs of approximately 475 employees. Cargill Planning and Selection Committee chose Hired to serve the impacted workers.
- The State Rapid Response Team (SRRT) received a WARN letter on 1/6/25, from IV Media, LLC dba ShopHQ, of the permanent layoff of approximately 128 employees from its facilities located in Eden Prairie. The Planning and Selection Committee chose Minnesota Job Partners to serve the impacted workers.
Reminder: Monthly Financial Status Report (FSR)/Monthly Reimbursement Payment Request (RPR):
- Due the 20th day of the month following the preceding month-end.
- A monthly RPR/FSR is required even if no funds were expended.
Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP):
- GPMS e-News January 2025 Issue Vol 3 is now available.
- The Workforce Integrated Performance System (WIPS), an Employment and Training Administration (ETA) -operated tool used for calculating grantee performance, is now integrated into GPMS.
- WIPS supports the reporting of the Quarterly Performance Report (QPR) and the Quarterly Narrative Report (QNR) at the grantee level.
- Because WIPS is interconnected with the State Wage Interchange System (SWIS), which enables wage data sharing among participating state agencies, this integration will enhance SCSEP’s employment outcome tracking (Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 Employment Rates, and Median Earnings) in GPMS. However, updates will still be subject to a two-quarter delay.
- Providers must continue tracking and conducting following ups with exited participants for three quarters post-exit.
- GPMS vLive Office Hours: Access the latest materials and recordings from the GPMS Office Hours series here: GPMS Office Hours vLive
- Upcoming Deadlines:
- Quarter 2 data freeze was extended from February 15, 2025 to March 8, 2025.
- All relevant information, including earnings and paid hours, must be entered into GPMS by March 7, 2025.
Retaining Employment and Talent After Injury/Illness Network (RETAIN):
Enrollment is ongoing for MN RETAIN, individuals with an illness/injury that need support to stay-at-work or return-to-work can contact MN RETAIN at worker@mnretain.com or through the contact form on www.mnretain.com.
Questions from the Field:
Q: We would appreciate some guidance on putting case notes into WF1 prior to enrollment. Is it ok to start case noting our communications with potential clients while we are still in the enrollment decision making progress?
A: Case noting should start after enrollment decision is made. If needed, pre-enrollment case notes can be added once the person is enrolled. Workforce development programs are designed around a case management approach, and case notes are an essential component of effective case management practices. Case notes document and maintain information about participants, their progress, and the process and rationale for providing services to program participants. Case notes also provide information regarding the importance and value of services offered to participants and aid in evaluating and planning future services.
Performance and Accountability:
Should you have performance or data entry questions, please contact our general email performanceap.deed@state.mn.us
Please email all requests, reports, and technical assistance questions to the Dislocated Worker Federal Adult Programs general email at dwfaprograms.deed@state.mn.us.
 Change is coming soon!
CareerForceMN.com will be changing to CareerForce.MN.gov later this spring.
This change is being made to make the site more secure and is in line with best practices for websites maintained by government agencies.
More information will be shared in multiple ways leading up to and following the change to CareerForce.MN.gov.
Contact the CareerForce Information and Assistance line at 651-259-7500 or careerforce@state.mn.us if you have questions
 In-Person Informational Sessions Coming Soon
Trade Adjustment Assistance staff will be “touring” the state in the upcoming months to provide in-person informational sessions to people who may be eligible to apply for TAA benefits under older petitions. Watch for more detail soon!
Virtual Technical Assistance Drop-in Sessions for DW Counselors
TAA staff plan to host virtual drop-in sessions for Dislocated Worker (DW) Counselors to learn more about the TAA benefits and how to best serve customers who are eligible for TAA. If you have specific topics that you’d find helpful, email TAA with your ideas! Dates and schedules coming soon.
Virtual Informational Session March 28
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 March 28 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.
 The most recent issue 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, and analyze the impact that proposed staffing regulations might have on employment in the long-term care sector. In addition, there are three other articles included:
Regional Long-Term Employment Projections, 2022-2032
In addition to the statewide long-term projections produced every two years, DEED also creates more detailed employment forecasts for the six planning regions in Minnesota. Based on various factors, Central Minnesota and the Twin Cities Metro Area are poised for higher-than-average growth. Southeast and Northwest Minnesota are expected to grow slightly below the state average and Northeast and Southwest Minnesota are projected to grow relatively slower over the next decade.
Green and Clean Employment in Minnesota: The Energy Sector
This article, the third in a series on green and clean employment, profiles energy sector employment trends using two common data sources. Three notable trends are: 1) the increasing share of energy employment in Greater Minnesota, 2) the increasing share of energy employment in electric power generation, and 3) the growth in electric power generation jobs located outside of the Utility sector. This article reviews how the shifts Minnesota has already made towards renewable and low-carbon energy sources show up in employment data and discusses how recent state energy policies and initiatives will likely impact future energy workforce demand.
'Tis the Season – Recreational Employment in Minnesota
Minnesota's outdoor recreation economy thrives throughout the year, with winter activities significantly contributing to the state's success. From snowmobiling and cross-country skiing to ice fishing across the state's countless lakes, winter recreation has become an essential part of Minnesota's outdoor offerings. This four-season approach to outdoor recreation, with substantial winter impacts, helps Minnesota maintain a more consistent year-round tourism economy compared to states that rely primarily on warm-weather activities.
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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