The Fabric of Minnesota: An Opportunity Agenda for a Better Minnesota
Office of Governor Walz & Lt. Governor Flanagan sent this bulletin at 03/09/2017 04:28 PM CST
March 09, 2017 | In The News
The Fabric of Minnesota: An Opportunity Agenda for a Better Minnesota
During the 2016
Legislative Session, Governor Dayton secured an initial round of funding to
begin addressing racial and economic disparities in communities across
Minnesota. This session, the Governor is proposing numerous investments
throughout his proposed budget to close educational opportunity and achievement
gaps, address health disparities in communities of color, create economic
opportunity and equitable outcomes for all Minnesotans, and strengthen
communities in every corner of Minnesota. READ MORE
Minnesota Must Do Better for ALL
Minnesotans
When Governor Dayton took office in January 2011, over 202,000
Minnesotans were out of work, and unemployment was at 6.9 percent. Since then,
Minnesota’s employers have added over 252,000 jobs, and the statewide
unemployment rate has been at or below 4 percent for over 30 months.
But not all Minnesotans are sharing in Minnesota’s economic
recovery. Persistent educational achievement gaps, vast differences in income,
and disparities in health and employment are still leaving too many Minnesotans
of color behind.
Here is what you need to know:
23% –The state’s poverty rate for Minnesotans of color and indigenous
people (23%) is nearly twice the poverty rate for all Minnesotans (10%).
39%– More than one-third of all African American kids in Minnesota are living
in poverty (39%).
2x –The unemployment rate for African Americans in Minnesota (8.8%) is
more than twice that of all Minnesotans (4%). The unemployment rate for
Latino Minnesotans is over 5.3%.
70% –Median income for Somali households in Minnesota ($18,400) is 70%
less than the median household income of all Minnesotans ($60,900). That
means Somali households earn about $42,500 less in annual wages than the
state’s median household income.
54% –Median income for Ojibwe households in Minnesota ($28,100) is 54%
less than the median income of all Minnesotans ($60,900). That means Ojibwe
households earn around $32,800 less annually than the state’s median
household income.
53% – Median income for African American households in Minnesota ($28,800)
is 53% less than the median income of all Minnesotans ($60,900). That means
African American households earn about $32,100 less annually than the state’s
median household income.
32% –Median income for Latino households in Minnesota ($41,700) is 32%
less than the median household income of all Minnesotans ($60,900). That
means Latino households earn about $19,200 less in annual wages than the
state’s median household income.
13% – Median income for Hmong households in Minnesota ($53,000) is 13% less
than the median income of all Minnesotans ($60,900). That means Hmong
households earn about $7,900 less in annual wages than the states’ median
household income.
82¢ –Women in Minnesota earn about 82 cents for every $1 a man earns. That
is about $9,500 less in annual wages.
69% –In 2016, 87 percent of white students in Minnesota graduated from
high school. By contrast, only 69 percent of students of color graduated from
high school in 2016. Minnesota has made important progress in closing those
achievement gaps since 2006, when only 49 percent of students of color were
graduating from high school. But there is still much more work to do to
ensure all students receive excellent and equitable educations.
During the 2016 Legislative Session, Governor Dayton secured $35
million to begin addressing racial economic disparities in Minnesota.
Additionally, the Dayton Administration is taking steps create better economic
opportunity for all Minnesotans. Here is a brief look at what Governor Dayton
has done thus far.
Governor’s
Diversity & Inclusion Council
In 2015,
Governor Dayton signed
an executive order establishing the Diversity and Inclusion Council. The
Council, chaired by the Governor, is working to:
1.Improve the recruitment and retention of state
employees from diverse backgrounds;
2.Improve contracting processes and increase
contract rewards for businesses owned by Minnesotans from diverse
backgrounds; and
3.Promote civic engagement from all communities
in the State of Minnesota.
Diverse
Hiring in State Government
In his 2016
State of the State Address, Governor Dayton announced that he plans to
increase the percentage of people of color working in state government to 20
percent by the time he leaves office.
When the Governor took office in 2011, only 8 percent of state
employees were people of color. Today, because of the efforts of the Dayton
Administration, 11 percent of the state’s employees are now people of color.
The Dayton Administration is committed to doing the work necessary to achieve
the 20 percent goal
Disability
Hiring in State Government
In 2016, Governor
Dayton announced his goal to increase the percentage of state employees
with disabilities to 7 percent by August 2018.
As of 2013, only 3.2 percent of state employees were persons with
disabilities. Now, 6.2 percent of Minnesota state employees are persons with
disabilities – with more work to do to reach the Governor’s 7 percent goal.
Comprehensive
Audit of State Government
Last year, Governor
Dayton announced that Minnesota state government would undergo a
comprehensive audit to review its compliance with procurement, human rights,
and affirmative action laws. The audit was completed in February 2017 and the
State is moving forward to address recommendations in the audit and integrate
the findings into the work of the State to benefit all Minnesotans.
Diversity
in Our Courtrooms
Since 2011, Governor Dayton has appointed 127 new judges to fill
judicial vacancies in Minnesota. In making these appointments, the Governor
has been mindful of improving diversity on the bench – helping ensure that
the state’s judges better-reflect the cultural, racial, and gender diversity
of the Minnesotans they serve.
So far, the Governor has increased the racial diversity of Minnesota’s
judges by 84 percent. He has appointed 80 percent of all of the Hispanic
judges currently serving in Minnesota, and increased the proportion of female
judges in Minnesota by 33 percent.
Additionally, the Governor appointed the first Hispanic appellate
court judge in Minnesota history, appointed the first African American female
justice to the Minnesota Supreme Court, appointed the first American Indian
to the Minnesota Supreme Court, and appointed the first openly gay justice to
the Minnesota Supreme Court.
Increasing
Contracts with Targeted Group Businesses
Governor Dayton has directed all state agencies to facilitate vendor
access to opportunities for minority, women, disabled and veteran-owned
businesses, and then take action to increase state contracts with those
businesses.
Young
Women’s Initiative
In 2016, Governor
Dayton and Lt. Governor Smith announced the Young Women’s Initiative to
improve opportunity for young women across Minnesota. The Young Women’s
Initiative of Minnesota is bringing together young women, community leaders,
nonprofits, businesses, and government to improve equity in outcomes for
young women who experience the greatest disparities. In particular, the
initiative includes:
1.Eight
Community-Specific Working Groups working together to expand opportunities
for women in Minnesota;
2.A
Young Women’s Initiative Council of 70 leaders from elected office, the
business community, philanthropy, and the community to mobilize resources;
and
3.A
Young Women’s Cabinet of 25 young women to ensure the Working Groups and
Council stay grounded in the lived experiences of young women.
Women’s
Economic Security Act
In 2014, Governor
Dayton signed into law the Women’s Economic Security Act (WESA) –
nation-leading legislation designed to break down barriers to economic
progress for women. WESA strengthens workplace protections and flexibility
for pregnant women and nursing mothers, expands employment opportunities for
women in high-wage, high-demand occupations, and reduces the gender pay gap
through better enforcement of equal pay laws.
LGBTQ
Rights
In 2013, Governor
Dayton signed into law the Freedom to Marry bill, making it legal for all
Minnesotans to marry the person they love.
In 2014, Governor
Dayton signed into law the Safe and Supportive Schools Act, strengthening
protections against the threat of bullying in schools. The law provides local
school districts the guidance, support, and flexibility to adopt clear and
enforceable school policies to help protect all children from bullying, and
to reinforce the principles of tolerance and respect in our schools.
This year, Governor Dayton and Lt. Governor Smith voiced their
concern that bullying against LGBTQ students is
still a serious problem, and urged all
school districts to continue protections for transgender, gay, and
lesbian students.
Council
on Law Enforcement and Community Relations
In 2016, Governor
Dayton signed an executive order establishing the Governor’s Council on
Law Enforcement and Community Relations. The Council is charged with
developing recommendations to build trust and cooperation between law
enforcement agencies and the communities they serve, thereby creating a safer
and more harmonious Minnesota.
Under Governor Dayton’s leadership, Minnesota is doing much better
than it was before – with 252,100 new jobs and a $1.6 billion budget surplus.
But too many Minnesotans are still being left behind, especially in communities
of color that face health disparities, experience opportunity gaps in
education, and have less access to jobs with family-sustaining wages. Governor
Dayton’s Opportunity Agenda for a Better Minnesota includes strategic
investments to prepare workers for good jobs, alleviate disparities in health
and housing, and expand economic opportunities for Minnesotans of color.
Summaries of these proposed investments are included below.
Expanding
Economic Opportunity Statewide
•Training for High Wage, High Demand Jobs
– The Minnesota PIPELINE project
connects Minnesotans with training for jobs in high demand industries including
advanced manufacturing, agriculture, health care services, and information
technology. More than 300 Minnesotans already have completed a PIPELINE
training program, allowing them to access good jobs without incurring the
significant student debt associated with other forms of higher education.
Governor Dayton has proposed a $600,000 investment to expand the PIPELINE
project and allow more Minnesotans to participate.
•Expanding Access to Apprenticeships for Great
Jobs – Minnesota’s Apprenticeship
programs combine job-related technical instruction with structured
on-the-job learning experience to prepare Minnesotans for high-demand jobs and
careers. Minnesota’s LEAP initiative delivers grants to workforce training
organizations that work with women, people of color, and members of other
communities not traditionally involved in skilled trades. The Opportunity
Agenda includes a $100,000 investment to expand the grant initiative and help
connect more Minnesotans of color with good-paying jobs in the skilled trades.
•Ensuring Minnesotans Receive Wages Earned
– Wage theft occurs when employers do not pay employees what is owed for work
already performed. Wage theft costs hardworking Minnesotans and their families
millions of dollars they already have earned. The Department of Labor and
Industry (DLI) estimates 39,000 Minnesota workers suffer from wage theft each
year – costing workers $11.9 million in wages. The Governor’s Opportunity
Agenda would invest $1 million to expand DLI’s investigations and prevent wage
theft. READ MORE
•Supporting Opportunity for Minnesotans with
Disabilities – The unemployment rate for Minnesotans with disabilities is
more than double that of the general population. Minnesotans with disabilities
who do find employment are far more likely to receive poverty-level wages.
Governor Dayton has proposed a $7 million investment in Minnesota’s Vocational
Rehabilitation program to ensure that Minnesotans with the most significant
disabilities receive employment training and counseling, to ensure they are
able to find and keep a job and live as independently as desired. The
Opportunity Agenda also would make changes to help people with disabilities to
live in their communities.
•Cutting
Taxes for Working Families – Governor Dayton has proposed tax cuts that
would benefit working and middle class Minnesota families, by cutting state
taxes to match federal changes, and putting $93 million back in the pockets of
hardworking taxpayers through the Working Family Credit. More than 372,000
families would see more money on their bottom line under the plan from Governor
Dayton.
•Ending Unfair Lending Practices – Many
Minnesotans with low-incomes struggle to pay their living expenses and live
paycheck to paycheck. When unexpected costs arise, these families are forced to
rely on high interest “payday” loans, which often carry interest rates of more
than 200 percent. These loans can plunge Minnesota’s most vulnerable families
into cycles of debt. Governor Dayton’s budget would close loopholes allowing
payday lenders to make interest rates much higher than intended under state
law. It also would limit borrowers to no more than four short-term loans in a
12-month period.
•Protecting Equal Opportunity Across Minnesota
– To improve enforcement of state human rights law and make it easier for
Minnesotans to file human rights complaints, Governor Dayton has proposed a
$2.3 million investment to open regional Department of Human Rights’ offices in
Duluth, Rochester, and Worthington. These offices ensure that individuals
across Minnesota are afforded the protections and opportunities they deserve
under state law.
•Workforce Goals for Bonding Projects –
Governor Dayton’s Jobs Bill requires construction contractors, who receive
state funding to complete local infrastructure projects, comply with
Minnesota’s existing workforce hiring goals. The Governor’s proposed reform
will help ensure state construction projects benefit all Minnesotans and
reflect the rich diversity of our state.
•Emerging Entrepreneur Loan Program –
While people of color comprise a rapidly growing share of Minnesota’s overall
population, less than 10 percent of all Minnesota businesses are
minority-owned. As our state’s demographics change, it is imperative that we
improve economic opportunities for emerging entrepreneurs to create good new
jobs. Governor Dayton’s budget would reform the Emerging
Entrepreneur Loan Program (EELP) to better support businesses owned by
people of color and women. The Governor’s proposal would allow EELP lenders to
forgive remaining payments once 90 percent of the principal has been repaid.
•Working Capital for Small Businesses –
Minnesota’s Working Capital Loan Fund helps small businesses get the funding
needed to cover operating costs like wages and supplies until they receive
payments for work on state transportation projects. It is intended to close the
gap experienced by small-businesses on construction projects. Governor Dayton’s
budget would make a one-time investment of $1.5 million to improve equity and
reduce disparities in contracting, by providing an infusion of working capital
for socially and economically disadvantaged businesses.
Building
Healthy Families and Communities
•Addressing Health Disparities –
Minnesota, on average, ranks among the healthiest states in the nation.
However, Minnesota
has some of the worst health care disparities between groups in the nation.
The Governor’s budget would invest $1 million to alleviate health disparities
in communities of color in Minnesota. This funding would help analyze trends in
communities, provide direct outreach to improve health outcomes, and provide
grants to community health boards or nonprofits dedicated to reducing rates of
violence, suicide, and drug overdose – causes of preventable death with
tremendous disparities for veterans, communities of color, and American
Indians.
•MinnesotaCare Buy-In – Governor Mark
Dayton is seeking to build on the bipartisan successes of MinnesotaCare. To
lower prices for more Minnesotans, Governor Dayton wants to give everyone who
buys their insurance on the individual health insurance market the choice to
buy-into MinnesotaCare. Minnesotans who choose “MinnesotaCare Buy-In” would pay
their own way –meaning the cost of their premiums would pay for their coverage,
without any additional ongoing costs to Minnesota taxpayers. GET
THE FACTS about the proposal.
•Reducing Exposure to Asbestos – For
decades, asbestos were added to common building materials, such as insulation,
pipes, and sheetrock, to improve strength and fire resistance. However,
asbestos fibers can cause severe lung diseases and cancer decades after the
initial exposure. To help low-income Minnesotans remediate their homes,
Governor Dayton’s budget would invest $260,000 a year in the state’s Healthy
Asbestos Insulation Remediation (Healthy AIR) Program.
•Fighting the Opioid Epidemic – Opioid
deaths have increased 430 percent in Minnesota since 2000. Eighty percent of
Americans addicted to heroin started out taking prescription pain medications.
Governor Dayton’s budget includes funding to improve statewide tracking of
overdoses in Minnesota so law enforcement and health officials can respond more
quickly and effectively. It also would invest $4 million for Minnesota’s Tribal
Nations and urban American Indian communities to fund prevention programs to
reduce opioid abuse. READ
MORE about these efforts.
Safe and
Stable Housing for All Minnesotans
•Opening the Door to the American Dream –
Americans have historically accumulated wealth and saved money for the future
through homeownership. Currently, 77 percent of white households own their
homes, while only 39 percent of households of color own their homes in
Minnesota. This disparity is often aggravated by the unique barriers to
homeownership facing Minnesotans of color. Governor Dayton’s Opportunity Agenda
would invest $2 million to level the playing field for eligible first-time
homebuyers with financial counseling and assistance with down payments and
closing costs.
•A Second Chance for Quality, Affordable
Housing – Minnesotans with a past criminal conviction can struggle to find
work and housing decades later. In 2014, Governor Dayton signed legislation
prohibiting employers from asking job applicants about most criminal
convictions. This year, the Governor is proposing a $300,000 investment to
extend the “Ban the Box” concept into rental housing. Under Governor Dayton’s
proposal, landlords would have to proactively inform prospective applicants
that a criminal background check would be conducted, how that information would
be used, and what offenses would be disqualifying.
Closing
Opportunity Gaps for Minnesota Students
•Homework Starts with Home – Approximately
167,000 Minnesota households with children face housing instability. Research
shows that homeless and mobile children are more likely to be absent from
school, perform worse on math and reading tests, and eventually drop out.
Through the Homework Starts with Home program, the Dayton Opportunity Agenda
includes $8 million to provide rental assistance to Minnesota families with
children to ensure that students have stable housing throughout the school
year. READ MORE
about this initiative.
•Investing in Student Success – Minnesota
college students of color are less likely to graduate than their white peers.
With Minnesota becoming increasingly diverse and a looming workforce shortage,
we cannot afford to leave any of our students behind. Governor Dayton has
proposed a $2.6 million investment for the Investing in Student Success
initiative at the University of Minnesota. The resources would provide support
services and opportunities to low-income, first-generation, and students of
color at the University.
•Engaging Teachers, Engaging Minds – Good
teachers can make all the difference for kids accessing opportunity and
achieving success in their lives. But each year, Minnesota schools lose about
5,800 teachers to retirement, relocation to other states, and career changes,
with Greater Minnesota communities hit especially hard. Teaching is engaging
and important work – good teachers help close the achievement gap, and serve as
advocates and role models. To expand opportunities for teachers, students, and
communities across our state, the Governor has proposed a $5 million investment
to help train and attract more than 800 potential teachers by 2021.
•Better Classrooms for American Indian
Students – Minnesota has four federal Bureau of Indian schools, which serve
over 750 students on tribal reservations. These schools operate in aging, often
decrepit facilities, with limited financial resources. Governor Dayton’s budget
invests $4.4 million to help ensure students at these schools, receive the same
state aid that students at other public schools enjoy. Without the Governor’s
proposed investment, state funding for these schools would drop 45 percent next
year.
Building
Stronger Community Partnerships
•Improving Tribal-State Relations –
Continuing the Dayton Administration’s commitment to strengthening
relationships with tribal governments, the Governor has proposed several
investments to improve communications. Governor Dayton’s budget would invest
$410,000 to continue the Department of Transportation’s innovative Tribal-State
Relations Training for state employees. In addition, the Governor’s budget
would allocate $194,000, allowing the Department of Revenue to hire a tribal
liaison that would work with Minnesota’s Tribal Nations on tax issues.
•Making State Government Technology Accessible
– Minnesotans increasingly rely on state government website and technology to
access important resources and services. However, these systems are not always
designed to meet the needs of Minnesotans with disabilities. This year, the
Governor has proposed a $500,000 investment for an external assessment of state
agency technology accessibility and develop remediation plans for major state
technology systems.
•World-Class Training for Law Enforcement
– Law enforcement officers are regularly asked to make life and death decisions
in a matter of moments. Governor Dayton’s Opportunity Agenda includes $10
million to ensure that local law enforcement officers receive world-class
training, while strengthening relationships with members of the communities
they serve.
* * * * *
CLICK HERE to learn more about all of Governor Dayton’s proposed
investments in his Opportunity Agenda for a Better Minnesota. CLICK HERE to read more about the Governor’s proposed budget “At
a Glance.”
Office of Governor Mark Dayton & Lt. Governor Tina Smith