DEED Announces $2.4 Million in Job Training Grants for Women Entering Non-Traditional Occupations and Underserved Adults
Today, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced nearly $2.4 million in workforce grants for 24 organizations to help adults facing barriers to employment find and keep in-demand, career-path employment.
Women?s Economic Security Act (WESA) Grants ? totaling $1.4 million ? provide services that encourage and assist women to enter high-wage, high-demand, nontraditional occupations including but not limited to those in the skilled trades and Information Technology occupations. Adult Support Services Competitive Grants ? totaling $950,000 ? fund new or enhanced services such as job training, employment preparation, internships, job assistance to parents, financial literacy and academic and behavioral interventions for adults. Grants under this program must focus on low-income communities, adults from families with a history of intergenerational poverty and communities of color. Together, grantees expect to serve more than 830 Minnesotans through these programs.
?WESA and Adult Support Services are two of DEED?s high-impact workforce development programs to provide specialized training to Minnesotans looking for work,? said DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek. ?In partnership with organizations around the state, we?re helping Minnesotans gain work-ready skills and find new jobs ? strengthening Minnesota families, communities and the entire economy.?
"Creating opportunities for all Minnesotans to reach their full employment potential helps individuals and their families establish economic stability and build generational wealth, and it helps our entire state economy by utilizing our state?s greatest economic resource: our workers,? said DEED Deputy Commissioner Marc Majors. ?Encouraging women who face barriers to employment in finding fulfilling work in high-demand, high-wage, non-traditional occupations or industries will help individuals and families thrive. Providing support services to people to help them prepare for and find family-sustaining employment makes a positive difference for communities throughout the state.?
?Minnesota Training Partnership is honored to again receive WESA grant funding to help prepare encourage and support women in entering non-traditional, high-demand and high-paying employment,? said Minnesota Training Partnership (MTP) Executive Director Jerome Balsimo. ?Achieving union employment in the trades can completely change a person?s life by providing family-sustaining wages on a strong career path.?
Here?s one example of how WESA has helped a Minnesotan facing barriers to employment: A person who had earned a heavy equipment operator certification while incarcerated enrolled in the Minnesota Training Partnership (MTP) WESA program after her release, with the goal of becoming a heavy equipment operator through an apprenticeship with the Operating Engineers Local 49. MTP helped the participant find part-time employment, participate in additional training and get necessary work clothing. She was able to then obtain full-time employment with a local non-profit organization at $18.00 per hour driving a large truck to pick up mattresses for recycling. Within two weeks, she was leading her own route. She continues to strive toward her goal of becoming a union heavy equipment operator.
Grantees receiving these funds connect with participants in various ways. People interested in WESA, Adult Support Services, and other programs to help them prepare for good jobs should contact a CareerForce location near them. CareerForce location contact information can be found at CareerForceMN.com/locations or by calling 651-259-7500.
Grantees include:
Women?s Economic Security Act (WESA) Grantees:
Community Action Duluth - $100,000
Dunwoody College, Minneapolis - $140,000
EMERGE, Minneapolis - $160,000
Minnesota Training Partnership (MTP), St. Paul - $200,000
National Able Network, Minneapolis - $200,000
Northwest Indian Community Development Center (NWICDC), Bemidji - $200,000
Somali Community Resettlement Services (SCRS), Minneapolis - $175,000
Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council (SWMN PIC), Marshall - $150,000
Washington County - $100,000
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Adult Support Services Grantees:
Accessibility, Minneapolis - $90,000
African Community Services, Minneapolis - $60,000
Community Action Duluth - $50,000
Global Fatherhood Foundation, Brooklyn Park - $50,000
Hired, Minneapolis - $50,000
International Institute of Minnesota, St. Paul - $50,000
Lakes and Prairies Community Action Partnership, Moorhead - $50,000
Lutheran Social Services, St. Paul - $50,000
Minnesota Valley Action Council, Mankato - $50,000
Neighbors Inc., South St. Paul - $60,000
Northwest Indian Community Development Center (NWICDC), Bemidji - $60,000
Somali Community Resettlement Services (SCRS), Minneapolis - $60,000
South Sudanese Foundation, Moorhead - $50,000
Summit Academy, Minneapolis - $60,000
Tasks Unlimited, Minneapolis - $50,000
Twin Cities Rise, Minneapolis - $60,000
Winona County - $50,000
DEED is the state?s principal economic development agency, promoting business recruitment, expansion and retention, workforce development, international trade and community development. For help preparing for and finding employment, visit CareerForceMN.com. For more details about the agency and its services, visit the?DEED website, the?JoinUsMn.com?website, or follow us on X (formerly Twitter).
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Upon request, this information can be made available in alternate formats for people with disabilities by contacting the DEED Communications Office at 651-259-7161.
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