DEED awards nearly $16 million for small city projects

The Minnesota Dept. of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has awarded 39 grants totaling more than $15.9 million to hlep pay for improvements for housing, commercial property and infrastructure in Greater Minnesota.

West central Minnesota communities that have received grants include:

Ashby, $351,600, to rehabilitate 15 owner-occupied houses to benefit Ashby and Wendell.

Glenwood, $505,570, to rehabilitate 15 owner-occupied houses, 10 rental units and eight commercial buildings to benefit the cities of Glenwood, Sedan and Evansville and Polk and Douglas counties.

Hancock and Morris, $288,170, to rehabilitate 10 owner-occupied houses.
Parkers Prairie, $389,121, to rehabilitate 16 owner-occupied houses to benefit Parkers Prairie and Deer Creek.

MN communities encouraged to apply as "Shovel Ready" site

DEED is encouraging Minnesota communities to apply for the state's new Shovel Ready Site Certification Program to facilitate the attraction of new business and industry.

The new program makes the site-selection process easier, faster and more predictable for companies looking to grow in Minnesota, said DEED Commissioner Dan McElroy.

The term "shovel ready" refers to commercial and industrial sites that have had all of the planning, zoning, surveys, title work, environmental studies, soils analysis and public infrastructure engineering completed prior to offering the site for sale.

Learn more about the Shovel Ready Site Certification Program.

West central Minnesota job seekers outnumber jobs 5-1

excerpted from Chokio Review, March 26, 2009

The latest Job Vacancy Survey from DEED shows that in west central Minnesota there are 6,700 unemployed workers competing for only 1,3200 unfilled jobs. This means that job seekers outnumber job openings by more than 5 to 1 (Figures for job seekers and job opendings from fourth quarter 2008).

Other findings include:

• 60 percent of all openings are part time.
• Only 45 percent of openings offer health care.
• 27 percent require education or training beyond high school.

Get more area labor data from DEED.

DEED announces free entrepreneurship program

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is offering a free program to help people start their own businesses.



The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor and is open to people who are at least 50 years old, eligible for the federal Dislocated Worker Program and committed to starting a new business.


Learn more.

DEED announces Minnesota Investment Fund-Biomass Heating Program

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is pleased to announce the availability of the Minnesota Investment Fund (MIF) Biomass Heating Program.

This program provides grants and loans to local units of government for the installation of biomass heating projects in publicly owned facilities. The funding award limit is $250,000, with a required minimum local match of 1 to 1. A total of $1 million will be awarded.

Applications for funding will be accepted until April 30, 2009, or until all funds are committed, whichever is sooner.

For more information, please go to: http://gw.vtrenz.net/?KXKPKYPAZV:C1KT9LRLTA=ssID:296797399,email:nancy@wcif.org

Read the latest DEED news

The City of Hancock receives funds for an improved wastewater treatment infrastructure, and DEED awards monies to help dislocated workers start small businesses.

Read all the latest Dept. of Employment and Economic Development news.

1,700 jobs added in May, but unemployment grows

Minnesota employers added 1,700 jobs in May, accoridng to figures released by the Minnesota Dept. of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).

The state remained ahead of the U.S> pace for employment growth in the part year, expanding by 0.3 percent or 7,170 jobs since May 2007. The U.S. over-the-year growth rate was 0.1 percent during that period.

The unemployment rate grew .6 percent to a rate of 5.4 percent in May even while the state was adding jobs because the two categories are derived from different statistical information. The rate reflects 12,000 jobs in Minensota lost in April.

"Although the economy continues to present challenges, Minensota is performing better in many sectors thatn the country as a whole," said DEED Commissioner Dan McElroy.

Read entire release.