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News and Updates

Partner Post Highlighting Collaboration and Shared Goals

September Drop-In Cafe

Thanks to all who were able to attend the September 9th Cafe. Vanward Consulting shared information about their Lean In! programing. Envision Services also shared with us their Level Up Program. For those who missed out on the session, please visit our Café webpage to watch the recording.

October Forum

SSB Staff & Community Partner Forum will be held on October 14, 2025: 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Registration is required.

Registration

MDHR-Important Contract Requirement

Certain companies contracting with the State of Minnesota, cities, counties, and the University of Minnesota must have a Workforce Certificate. Workforce Certificates require companies to maintain a workplace free from discrimination under the Minnesota Human Rights Act.

Annual Compliance Reports are due on or before the date of when the Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR) approved a company's Workforce Certificate. If your company is required to have a Workforce Certificate, an annual report is required by your contract. It is important to keep your company information up to date so they can contact you when your report is due. Your company may be in jeopardy of disrupted services from SSB if your report is not filed on time.

For more information visit MDHR webpage about Compliance Reports.

Metro Mobility Option-Rideshare UZURV

Ron Brooks, Senior Director of Policy and Stakeholder Engagement for UZURV -announced that community members eligible for Metro Mobility in the Minneapolis Region are now be able to choose UZURV as a transportation option for Premium On-Demand (POD) same-day service. The new option launched September 3rd.

More information for riders about the new service can be found by visiting this information page: https://uzurv.com/metro-mobility-ride/

BCA & Insurance Update

For months we have reminded our Community Partners that all Criminal Background Checks are due to us by August 1st each year according to our contracts. Most partners have submitted theirs. If you have not, please complete the proper process for your business before the end of this month.

We have also sent reminders to list SSB on your certificate of insurance and to provide us with an updated copy of your certificate of coverage. If you have not yet submitted this, we kindly ask that you send it to us.

If you have questions, feel free to email us at SSBContracts.DEED@state.mn.us

State Services for the Blind provides tools and training for employment, living independently, and accessing print. We assist Minnesotans who are blind, DeafBlind, experiencing vision loss, or have difficulty accessing the printed word.

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SSB is an equal opportunity employer and program provider.

The Minnesota State Services for the Blind Vocational Rehabilitation program receives 78.69 percent of its funding through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. For federal fiscal year 2024, the total amount of grant funds awarded were $10,410,449. The remaining 21.3 percent of the costs ($2,817,568) were funded by Minnesota state appropriations.