Federal funding cuts, mental health awareness month, and creating savings plans





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"May 15, 2025"

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Table of Contents

* Federal funding cuts to EAP [ #grace ]
* Mental health awareness [ #mental ]
* Create a spending and savings plan [ #finance ]





Grace at Duluth event
Federal funding cuts to the Energy Assistance Program would put Minnesotans at risk for higher utility bills and power shutoffs

The White House’s fiscal year 2026 budget proposal calls for the elimination of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which funds Minnesota’s Energy Assistance Program [ [link removed] ] - a program that each year helps approximately 125,000 income-eligible households in Minnesota keep their heat and lights on. 

Minnesota’s Energy Assistance Program, which is fully funded by LIHEAP, has consistently proven its value as an effective, efficient way to keep energy affordable for all Minnesotans.  

Minnesota Commerce Commissioner Grace Arnold was joined in Duluth on May 12 by Citizens Utility Board Executive Director Annie Levenson-Falk and Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency Energy Assistance Coordinator Jean Pelletier to explain the impacts for Minnesota homeowners and renters if federal funding for Minnesota’s Energy Assistance Program is eliminated.  

“Minnesota’s Energy Assistance Program has proven its value as an effective, efficient way to ensure families have homes that are safe and warm,” said Commissioner Arnold. “For more than four decades, the federal government has been a reliable partner in funding LIHEAP to keep energy affordable for all in the state. Eliminating this vital program is not government efficiency. It’s abandonment.”

*Press release* [ [link removed] ]






mental health
May is Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month [ [link removed] ] in the State of Minnesota.  

Commerce plays a role in supporting the mental health of Minnesotans by reviewing insurance benefits to ensure mental health coverage is equal to other types of medical care. Commerce also investigates complaints to ensure compliance with rules and regulations, publishing a mental health parity report each year.

*Learn more* [ [link removed] ]






financial journey
Learn how to create a spending and savings plan, improve your credit score, and more

The Minnesota Department of Commerce oversees a range of banking and financial services for Minnesotans. Whether you're opening a bank account, purchasing a home, or seeking advisers to help you reach your financial goals, Commerce is here to help.

*Learn more* [ [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.

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

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