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E1MN Newsletter - March 2026
E1MN Updates
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), through Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS), is seeking applications from organizations and businesses interested in becoming vocational rehabilitation Community Partners. Community Partners provide job-related services to people who are eligible for VRS. The state expects to award multiple contracts through this opportunity. To learn more, view the Request for Proposals.
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) requires each governor to submit a workforce development State Plan every four years to the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Education. Minnesota has proposed updates to its 2024–2027 plan to reflect changes in the labor market. The updates from the WIOA State Plan Modifications are now open for public comment through March 16, 2026.
Hub Spotlight
Work Toolkit Self-Assessments
Your expectations and attitudes matter. Believing that the people you support can succeed in employment may be the difference in whether they work or not. Most people are motivated to work if they perceive an importance of work — and a genuine belief that work is possible — from the professionals who support them.
In the Work Toolkit, you can take a self-assessment to reflect on your own beliefs and thoughts about employment. Next, take an agency assessment to gain insight into your agency's culture.
Success Stories
E1MN Collaboration
Read about how Kenny, a recent high school graduate and his team of professionals “paved the road to employment” through collaborative partnerships and work-based learning experiences. Kenny’s team used Minnesota’s Youth in Transition Framework and followed the youth planning process to help Kenny have a variety of work experiences that have set him up for successful, competitive employment in the future. Read Kenny's story here.
Events
LEADCenter Webinar: From Collaboration to Action
The webinar From Collaboration to Action: State Initiatives Advancing Disability Employment will focus on innovative ways states are using partnerships, shared goals, and evidence-driven approaches to strengthen service delivery to job seekers with disabilities through the public workforce development system. Panelists will highlight how initiatives were launched, how partners contributed to design and implementation, and how states are tracking progress and adjusting strategies to improve results.
Participants will hear directly from states as they share strategies—such as implementing a financial literacy train-the-trainer series to build statewide capacity and strengthening collaboration between experienced employment service providers and local businesses to expand employment opportunities.
When: March 25th, 3pm-4:15pm Eastern Time (2pm-3:15pm Central Time)
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What is the E1MN Newsletter?
E1MN is Minnesota's state agency partnership to advance Employment First outcomes for youth and adults with disabilities. The state agency partnership evolved from Minnesota's Employment First policy adopted by the Olmstead sub-cabinet in 2014.
The E1MN Newsletter is a way to communicate important information to professionals (school, VRS/SSB, county, provider staff) who support employment outcomes for youth and adults with disabilities.
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