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"December 20, 2023"






*Solar for Schools new grants for schools starting January 2024*

The Minnesota Department of Commerce Solar for Schools Program has new grant funding for schools to install solar power. Starting Jan. 3, Commerce will begin accepting Solar for Schools applications for the 2024 program year.? To learn more, visit mn.gov/solar4schools [ [link removed] ].?

Solar for Schools was established by the Minnesota Legislature. In 2023, lawmakers added funding to bring solar to more schools. Eligible schools may apply for grants to cover 40% to 70% of the cost to purchase and install a solar energy program. The program?was designed to:


* Provide incentives for schools to install solar systems, to help reduce schools? energy costs and reduce schools? carbon emissions.
* Offer students opportunities for real-time learning about solar power and renewable energy and introduce them to career paths in our growing clean energy economy.

Benefits of Solar for Schools are highlighted in this Commerce YouTube video, [ [link removed] ]?featuring Independent School District 196 School of Environmental Studies staff and students who?recently provided demonstrations of renewable energy lessons for legislators to show the benefits of the program at their school. Legislators who visited the school (pictured below with students): Reps. Patty Acomb, Larry Kraft, Robert Bierman and Lucy Rehm, and Sens. Kelly Morrison, Nicole Mitchell, Tou Xiong, and MN Commerce Deputy Commissioner of Energy Resources Michelle Gransee.

Solar for Schools District 196 SES students w legislators Nov. 29 2023 event




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Dream Driven Teams recruitment for state jobs
*State Jobs Fair Jan 13: *

*What:* One Dream, One Minnesota Career Fair

*When:* Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

*Where:* St. Paul Armory, 600 Cedar St, Saint Paul

Find the Minnesota Commerce Department?plus many more state agencies?at the One Dream, One Minnesota Career Fair. This event will showcase the many jobs and career paths available within Minnesota?s state government.??



*We are hiring:*

Can?t join us at the One Dream, One Minnesota Career Fair? Visit mn.gov/commerce/careers [ [link removed] ] to learn more and apply for our open positions. We are hiring for our Financial Institutions, Legal Services, and Energy Resources teams and more.






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*Senior fraud prevention*

Have you received a text message, phone call, or email informing you that your computer has been hacked? The notification will ask you to call a number to call claiming to be IT services.

This is a popular scam targeting seniors in Minnesota called a *?Phantom Hacker?* scam, says Marty Fleischhacker, Commerce's Senior Fraud Ombudsperson. The fraud involves scammers who:


* Impersonate financial or government agencies to gain access to your financial information
* Try to convince you to transfer your money into a ?secure account? for safekeeping.
* Try to use your money to purchase valuable goods

Remember ? *a financial or government institution will never reach out to you asking for you to send them money or valuables.* The best thing you can do if someone on the phone asks for access to your banking information is hang up, and contact law enforcement. If you or a loved one thinks they have fallen victim to a Phantom Hacker, please contact law enforcement immediately.

For information on scams targeting seniors, and what you can do to protect yourself visit Commerce's Senior Fraud consumer page [ [link removed] ].?






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COMMERCE IN THE NEWS
CGA Dec 11 2023 press conf
Governor Walz, Commerce Commissioner Arnold promote Energy Assistance Program

Commerce Commissioner Grace Arnold joined Governor Tim Walz for a press conference Dec. 11 to spread the word about Minnesota?s Energy Assistance Program. They were joined by the energy assistance director for Community Action Partnership of Ramsey and Washington Counties and two energy assistance clients, to share the story of Minnesota households who qualify for help to pay their heating bills, as well as emergency furnace repairs and weatherization grants. As of Dec. 11, the program had already provided assistance to over 59,000 Minnesota households. ?

?Every Minnesotan deserves to be safe and warm in their home,? said Commissioner Arnold. ?Sometimes they?re choosing between groceries and staying warm. That?s not a choice we want anyone to make.?

Here is more data on how energy assistance is helping Minnesota families [ [link removed] ]. To apply, visit mn.gov/home [ [link removed] ].??

Charges in Medicaid Fraud

The Office of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced these charges [ [link removed] ] against three defendants alleged to have defrauded the Minnesota Medical Assistance (Medicaid) program out of nearly $11 million. The *Minnesota Commerce Fraud Bureau provided significant investigative assistance* to the Minnesota Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in its largest Medicaid fraud prosecution ever. Learn more about the Commerce Fraud Bureau: mn.gov/CommerceFraudBureau [ [link removed] ].?

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Get updates and news from the Minnesota Department of Commerce at?mn.gov/commerce [ [link removed] ]?or @MNCommerce on social media.

Twitter [ [link removed] ]?|??Facebook [ [link removed] ]??|??YouTube [ [link removed] ]??|??LinkedIn [ [link removed] ]??








*Minnesota Department of Commerce*
85 7th Place East, Suite 280
St. Paul, MN 55101

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