February 2026
 ACP Team News
The ACP Team looks forward to Mee Xiong’s return in mid-February! In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns about your ACP grant, please contact the ACP Coordinator assigned to your organization.
The CanTrain program applications were due January 8th and are in the review process. We expect award notifications to be sent within the next month and look forward to getting these additional projects up and running.
Tips/Tricks/Reminders
Workforce One – Program/Type Transfer Exit Reason
- All participants must be appropriately exited from Workforce One (WF1) within 45 days from the expiration of the grant contract.
- If participants were exited in WF1 with the Program/Type Transfer exit reason and re-enrolled in another ACP program, it is imperative that the participant is Exited from the prior funding stream and Enrolled into the new funding stream. Simply changing the funding stream on Activities does not complete the enrollment.
- All enrollment documents (Application, EP, etc.) should be current and signed prior to enrolling a participant into the new funding stream. It is not necessary to complete new enrollment documents if eligibility was determined within the last six months.
- Case-note the Program/Type Transfer in the enrollment case note. Provide some detail regarding why the participant was transferred and what services they will receive in the new enrollment.
Adult Career Pathways Grantee Onboarding
We are excited to collaborate with Employment & Training’s Fiscal and Monitoring teams, to facilitate four (4) in-person and one (1) virtual onboarding training sessions. We will be in St Paul, Blaine, Brainerd, and Rochester. Each session will have valuable information for all grantees regarding partnering with DEED, Program Components, Program Requirements, Fiscal Responsibilities, and Monitoring.
Coordinators have shared registration details for the upcoming sessions. Each organization is required to send at least one representative (and no more than three) to attend one session. In-person attendance is strongly encouraged. Please note that each staff member must register individually.
Registration closed January 30th. However, if you have not registered and want to attend one of the sessions, please reach out to your Grant Coordinator.
Adult Career Pathways Webpage
Check out the ACP home page for resources and tools to assist in the management of ACP Grants.
ACP Provider Map – Please review and if you are not included, but would like to be, reach out to your Coordinator.
ACP Successes
We'd love to learn about the amazing work you're doing and how it is positively impacting the lives of individuals throughout the State of Minnesota! To submit a success story, please fill out this brief ACP Success Stories Form.
Audrey is a 74-year old single woman who, after retiring, found she still wanted to continue growing her skills. Over the years, Audrey worked in many roles, including CNA and caregiver positions, as well as sales, cleaning, orthodontic assisting, secretarial work, and case management. In 2024, her desire to keep learning led her to ABE’s career skills class, and in early 2025 she enrolled in the On Ramp grant with Minnesota Valley Action Council /South Central Workforce Council.
Through the On Ramp grant, Audrey began taking Northstar Digital Literacy classes, an area she initially found intimidating. With consistent encouragement and support from her career skills instructor, she pushed through her apprehension and gained confidence. As a result, Audry earned five Northstar certifications, which proved to be a turning point for her. She began taking on informal leadership and mentoring roles in class, helping other students build their own digital literacy skills. In total, Audrey has earned eight different certifications (e.g., CPR, ServSafe) through the On Ramp grant.
Audrey reentered the workforce through a partnership with the MVAC senior program. She is now working at Lincoln Community Center as an engagement and teaching assistant, supporting Community Education and assisting the activities director. She is also preparing to serve as a teaching assistant for ABE’s long-term healthcare class, where she will draw on her past healthcare experience and newly earned certifications. Audrey credits the guidance and support of ABE staff for helping her move forward.
Audrey’s growth throughout her On Ramp enrollment has been remarkable. Though initially hesitant, she embraced new challenges with determination, grace, and warmth. Her drive to build new skills has not only expanded her own opportunities, but also led her to a meaningful and unique role within the Lincoln Community Center community.
Please contact your Adult Career Pathways Grant Coordinator directly with any questions regarding Adult Career Pathways Programs.
 Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)
SCSEP conducts an annual Customer Satisfaction Survey. This survey measures satisfaction among participants and host agencies, providing insights that shape program improvements and performance evaluations.
What’s New for the PY2024 Survey: SCSEP is introducing a major upgrade: electronic delivery for both Host Agency and Participant surveys.
- Host Agency Surveys: Continue via email.
- Participant Surveys: For the first time, delivered electronically, primarily through text messages, saving time and costs compared to mailed surveys.
Your Role: To ensure success, SCSEP providers must:
- Update Contact Information
- Host Agencies: Provide accurate individual email addresses.
- Participants: Confirm cell phone numbers capable of receiving texts (or email if no cell phone).
- Correct Records in GPMS: Apply the same updates in GPMS to avoid repeating this process.
Why It Matters: Accurate data ensures surveys reach the right people, enabling SCSEP to collect meaningful feedback. Responses are confidential and voluntary, covering areas like job assistance, training, and overall well-being. Results are analyzed nationally and shared via the DOL’s WorkforceGPS platform.
MJSP Board Meeting for March 2026
The next MN Job Skills Partnership (MJSP) Board meeting will be held on Monday, March 2, 2026.
Supplemental funding request due on February 2nd, 30 days before the meeting. Please submit via email to DWFAPrograms.DEED@state.mn.us. Access the narrative and worksheet forms on the DWFAP Forms Website and contact a Dislocated Worker program grant coordinator.
All MJSP Board meetings are open to the public. Most meetings are also held online via MS Teams. Additional information on the time, meeting format, and location will be posted as available on the MJSP web page.
Policy
DWFAP posted its first two advisories on 1/9/26:
DWFAP also posted a draft Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) policy for public comment on 1/9/26. All comments are due by Monday, 2/9/26:
On 1/23/26 DWFAP will also post its first Technical Assistance Response (TAR) Letter responding to a question about required local written policies for the WIOA Adult and WIOA Dislocated Worker programs. It will be posted on the DWFAP Policy and Guidance webpage. Copies of the TAR Letter can be requested ahead of its 1/23/16 posting by emailing Dwfaprograms.deed@state.mn.us.
TAR Letters can be requested at any time by emailing questions and technical assistance requests to Dwfaprograms.deed@state.mn.us. Remember that not every technical assistance request may result in a TAR Letter.
Retaining Employment and Talent After Injury/Illness Network (RETAIN)
Save the date for MN RETAIN’s upcoming summit. Check mnretain.com for ongoing updates and registration information.
 If needed in an alternative format, please contact info@mnretain.com.
Issued Dec 1, 2025; fully rescinded Change 1 and Change 2; replaced them with comprehensive guidance on:
- Alignment around Employer Retention:
- Newly defined under WIOA’s Effectiveness in Serving Employers indicator – programs must now validate retention with the same employer, with documentation included.
- Alignment around Educational Functional Gain:
- Clarifies what qualifies as “educational functional level gain” per TEGL 10‑16, Change 3, and includes steps to validate that documentation.
- Supplemental Wage Data:
- Updated allowable documentation with TEGL 26‑16 change 1 to implement supplemental wage information in performance reporting.
- Update to acceptable documentation for date of birth and low-income status:
-
Disallows self-attestation for date of birth or low-income status. See below for acceptable documents.
More information will be shared as we hear from DOL. Relevant DEED Policies and procedures will be updated in the upcoming weeks.
 If needed in an alternative format, please contact dwfaprograms.deed@state.mn.us.
Reminders:
- Monthly Financial Status Report (FRS)/Monthly Reimbursement Payment Request (RPR):
- Due the 20th day of the month following the preceding month-end. For example, the December RPR/FSR (December 31 end date) is due January 20.
- Report accrued monthly expenditures.
- A monthly RPR/FSR is required even if no funds were expended.
- Quarterly Progress Report:
- Reports for Quarter ending December 2025 were due on January 30. Please report on all active grants.
Please email all requests, reports, and technical assistance questions to the Dislocated Worker Federal Adult Programs general email at dwfaprograms.deed@state.mn.us.
  If needed in an alternative format, please contact, careerforce@state.mn.us.
On Tuesday, December 16, several updates to staff and partner accounts on CareerForce.MN.gov were rolled out. Here is a recap of what’s new:
- Single sign-on for DEED staff accounts
- Two-factor authentication for LWDA and training partner accounts
- Account profile updates
- Account dashboard and menu updates
For more details, below are links to a short document for each account type: DEED staff, LWDA staff who provide services from a CareerForce location, and partners who post training programs. You can also find these documents on the Staff and Partner Reference Materials page of CareerForce.MN.gov.
Open the document for your account type to learn more!
Questions or comments on the new changes? Please reach out to the CareerForce Information & Assistance Team at 651-259-7500 or careerforce@state.mn.us.
Contact the CareerForce Information and Assistance line at 651-259-7500 or careerforce@state.mn.us if you have questions.
 Recent analysis by DEED's Labor Market Information office highlighted the importance of foreign-born workers to Minnesota's economy, providing a rapid stream of new workers in the face of an aging native-born workforce. This includes details on the industries and occupations that foreign-born workers are currently employed in, and how that has changed over time.
The Growth and Impact of Minnesota’s Foreign-Born Workforce
Minnesota's foreign-born population has grown rapidly over the last decade, leading to increasing contributions to the state's workforce. Foreign-born workers account for almost 11% of Minnesota's labor force and play even larger roles in specific sectors and occupations.
The Role of Undocumented Immigrants in Minnesota's Workforce
Despite challenges in data accuracy and varying estimates of total numbers, immigrants who are undocumented make up a small but vital part of Minnesota's population and workforce, contributing significantly to key industries and helping to expand a tight labor market.
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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