Sept. 24 - DEED Receives Grant to Assist Dislocated Workers

ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Dislocated Worker Program has been awarded approximately $920,000 in additional funding to provide job training and related services for nearly 1,400 unemployed Minnesotans.

The grant will be used to continue to provide services to just over 1,100 current customers and to provide services to 264 new dislocated workers from Seagate Technology Inc., Target, IBM, Celestica and Hutchinson Technology, Inc. This additional allotment puts the grant to serve laid-off workers at these companies at over $5.7 million in total funding.

The National Emergency Grant (NEG) was awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor. The original $4.7 million NEG to support dislocated workers at these companies was awarded in June 2009.

“This funding will help laid-off workers receive the training they need to find good paying jobs,” said DEED Commissioner Dan McElroy. “The Dislocated Worker program provides an important step toward putting workers’ careers back on track.” 

The grant will be administered by five entities that provide Dislocated Worker Program services in the state:  HIRED, Career Management Services, Southeastern Minnesota Workforce Development Inc., Ramsey County Workforce Solutions and Central Minnesota Jobs & Training Services.

Dislocated Worker Program services include skills assessments, basic skills training, individual career counseling and occupational skills training.

National Emergency Grants provide temporary funding for state and local employment and training programs.  Each state must apply for the grants and must meet specific eligibility guidelines.  DEED has been awarded just over $15 million in NEG funding over the last year and a half.

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 our services, visit us at www.PositivelyMinnesota.com.

Upon request, the information in this news release is available in an alternative format such as Braille, large print, audiotape or computer disk.

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
Communications Office
Phone 651/259-7161 or 1-800-657-3858 ∙ TTY 1-800-657-3973
www.PositivelyMinnesota.com