~Programs approved for funding to improve economic opportunities for Minnesotans~
ST. PAUL, Minn. (Nov. 15, 2016) — The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) today announced equity grants totaling $8.1 million for fiscal year 2017 to organizations that will work to improve economic opportunities for people of color, women, youth, people with disabilities and/or veterans in Minnesota.
Review panels – composed of state staff and volunteers from the nonprofit and for-profit communities – selected funding recipients after reviewing $48.4 million in program proposals from 165 Minnesota organizations.
“These equity grants are very important steps in building a better Minnesota, where everyone has a full and equal opportunity to succeed,” said Gov. Mark Dayton. “I congratulate the recipients and wish them success in addressing these serious challenges. In the coming legislative session, I will again ask the Legislature to invest in creating better economic opportunities for all Minnesotans throughout our state.”
“If you have a good job, you have independence and the opportunity to improve your life,” said Lt. Gov. Tina Smith. “With these grants, the opportunity for a good job will be expanded for thousands of people, especially people of color, women, young people, veterans and/or Minnesotans with disabilities. This will be good for Minnesota families. And it will be good for Minnesota businesses, which are forecasted to have a shortage of more than 100,000 workers within four years.”
“This was the first time that DEED has used review panels composed of community members to select funding recipients,” said DEED Commissioner Shawntera Hardy. “The panels achieved our goal of ensuring transparency and diversity in the decision-making process. We will work to improve and implement this in other grant-making processes throughout DEED.”
“I appreciated the intent to bring citizen participation and input into government spending,” said review panel participant Joe Kreisman. “I think that is a noble and important part of being a public service department that acts on behalf of the citizens.”
“This review process allows the public to understand that the department is working with and not against them,” Trang Nguyen added. “I am hopeful that this change will leave a positive impact on the communities and our state’s well-being.”
The programs that were selected by the review panels will provide services under the Equity Article that was approved by the Minnesota Legislature earlier this year and signed into law by Gov. Dayton in June.
The goal of the funding is to eliminate educational and career barriers in Minnesota and to create an economy where everyone has an opportunity to succeed.
Additional information about the equity funding opportunities can be found on the DEED website.
The following is a summary of the programs and a breakdown of the organizations that were approved for funding to deliver program services. In addition to the lead agencies listed, many of the programs have numerous partners that are supporting the delivery of services.
Pathways to Prosperity Program
The program helps low-wage and low-skill adults who have multiple barriers to employment obtain credentials and skills that prepare them for jobs in growing fields such as health care and manufacturing.
Building Operations Technician Career Pathway Program
Lead agency: Project for Pride in Living, Twin Cities metro, $100,000
Manufacturing and Jobs, Training
Lead agency: Hmong American Partnership, Twin Cities metro, $300,000.
Ujamaa Place Transformation Program/Training in Construction
Lead agency: Ujamaa Place, Greater St. Paul area, $200,000
Region 5 Career Pathways Partnership
Lead agency: Regional Workforce Development Area 5, southwest and south-central Minnesota, $150,000
Increasing Diversity-Law Enforcement Career Ladder
Lead agency: St. Paul Police Department, St. Paul $200,000
Youth at Work Program
The program provides employment and training services for youth of color, youth with disabilities and/or at-risk youth.
Right Track
Lead agency: City of St. Paul, St. Paul, $202,970
Core IT
Lead agency: Minnesota Computers for Schools, Twin Cities metro, $180,000
Youth at Work
Lead agency: Hmong-American Partnership, St. Paul (Frogtown and East Side), $150,000.
Youth Employment and Training Program
Lead agency: Appetite for Change, North Minneapolis, $125,000
Indigenous Pathways to Economic Independence-Green Jobs Pathways
Lead agency: Migizi Communications, Minneapolis, $82,030
Skills Training, Internships, College Support for Disadvantaged Youth
Lead agency: Genesys Works, Twin Cities metro, $75,000
Anokiiwin Youth Training Program
Lead agency: Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency, Boise Forte Tribal Communities, $75,000
Learn and Earn to Achieve Potential Initiative
Lead agency: Project for Pride in Living Inc., Minneapolis, $60,000
Women in High Wage, High Demand, Nontraditional Jobs Competitive Grant Program
The program focuses on closing the gender pay gap and encourages women to enter nontraditional fields such as science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) or construction.
Women in Construction and Trucking Careers
Lead agency: Lifetrack Resources Inc., Twin Cities metro, $196,109
YWCA Commercial Driver’s License Training Program for Women
Lead agency: YWCA of St. Paul, Twin Cities metro, $96,000
Women in Technical Careers
Lead agency: Dunwoody College of Technology, Twin Cities metro, $345,200
Women in High Demand
Lead agency: Hmong American Partnership, Twin Cities metro, $180,000
Women in Trade Careers at Saint Paul College
Lead agency: Saint Paul College, Twin Cities metro, $155,274
Nontraditional Opportunities for Women
Lead agency: Washington County Workforce Center, Washington County, $48,400
Mino Bimaadiziwin
Lead agency: Honor the Earth, White Earth Ojibwe Reservation, $75,000
ETC-WESA Project
Lead agency: Pine Technical and Community College, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs and Pine counties, $329,017
Southeast Asian Economic Relief Competitive Grant Program
The program will address economic disparities in Southeast Asian communities through workforce recruitment and development, job creation, increased capacity of smaller organizations and outreach.
Manufacturing and Jobs, Training
Lead agency: Hmong American Partnership, Twin Cities metro, $350,000
CAPI KOM Collaboration
Lead agency: CAPI USA, Hennepin and Ramsey counties, $280,000
Piloting a Community-Owned Local Food Processing Social Enterprise
Lead agency: Hmong American Farmers Association, Twin Cities metro, $350,000
Southeast Asian Seniors Occupational English Classes
Lead agency: Hmong Cultural Center, Hennepin County, $320,000
Immigrant and Refugee Employment and Training Services
Lead agency: Southeast Asian Refugee Community Home, Twin Cities metro, $200,000
GAP IT/Customer Service Pathway Enrichment
Lead agency: Guadalupe Alternative Program, Hennepin and Ramsey countries, $250,000
Southeast Asian Training Program
Lead agency: Pathway Learning Center, Hennepin and Ramsey countries, $50,000
Southeast Asian Success in Southeastern Minnesota
Lead agency: Workforce Development Inc., Mower and Freeborn counties, $100,000
Support Services Competitive Grant Program
The program will focus on low-income communities, young adults from low-income families and communities of color, offering job training, employment preparation, internships, job assistance to fathers, financial literacy, academic and behavioral intervention for low-performing students and youth intervention.
Adult
Employment Assistance for Homeless and In-Crisis Veterans
Lead agency: Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans, state of Minnesota, $150,000
Last Chance Employment Project
Lead agency: African Community Services, Twin Cities metro, $100,000
Family Economic Stability Project
Lead agency: North Point Health & Wellness Center Inc., north Minneapolis, $150,000
Integrated-Care Model
Lead agency: Better Futures Minnesota, Hennepin and Ramsey counties, $150,000
Employment Support Services
Lead agency: Family Service Rochester, Olmsted County, $150,000
Region 5 SNAP E&T Support Services Project
Lead agency: Minnesota Valley Action Council, 23 counties in south central and southwestern Minnesota, $150,000
Eastside Financial Center-Bridges to Career Opportunities Expansion Project
Lead agency: Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, St. Paul East Side, $100,000
YOUTH
Community Ambassadors Initiative
Lead agency: Hallie Q. Brown Community Center, St. Paul, $150,000
Urban Opportunities Youth Advocates
Lead agency: Pillsbury United Communities, Minneapolis, $150,000
Increasing Literacy and Numeracy at the Harvest Network of Schools
Lead agency: Harvest Network of Schools, north Minneapolis, $100,000
PPL Capacity Building Initiative
Lead agency: Project for Pride in Living, Twin Cities metro, $150,000
Community Coaching Employment Readiness Program
Lead agency: Model Cities of St. Paul, Ramsey and Dakota counties,$150,000
Academic Enrichment: Serving Low-Income American Indian and African-American Children in St. Paul
Lead agency: Interfaith Action of Greater St. Paul, St. Paul, $100,000
Project Legacy
Lead Agency: Olmsted Outreach, Olmsted County, $150,000
Somali Youth Competitive Grant Program
Funding will support organizations and workforce programs that serve Somali youth.
Guul
Lead agency: Ka Joog, Minneapolis, St. Paul and Eden Prairie, $200,000
Coyle Center/African Immigrants Community Services Collaboration
Lead agency: Brian Coyle Center, Cedar Riverside and Phillips neighborhoods in south Minneapolis, $150,000
THRIVE
Lead agency: Confederation of Somali Community of Minnesota, Twin Cities metro, $150,000
Somali Youth Program
Lead agency: Intercultural Mutual Assistance Association, Rochester and Faribault, $250,000
Somali Youth and Steele County Works
Lead agency: United Way of Steele County, Steele County, $100,000
Somali Youth Project
Lead agency: Afro-American Development Association Inc., Moorhead, $100,000
DEED is the state’s principal economic development agency, promoting business recruitment, expansion and retention, workforce development, international trade and community development. For more details about the agency and its services, visit the DEED website or follow DEED on Twitter.
