The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development awarded nearly $2 million to 12 organizations that provide job training to youths and young adults.
DEED’s Youthbuild program provides grants to Minnesota organizations that offer construction job training, academic support, mentoring, case management and other services for young people who have dropped out of high school or are at risk of dropping out.
Three of those organizations serve Northern Minnesota. Bi-County Community Action Programs — serving Beltrami and Cass counties with offices in Bemidji — will receive $190,000 to fund its Youthbuild program. Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency in Grand Rapids will also receive a $180,000 grant, and True North Goodwill of Northern Minnesota and Northwestern Wisconsin will receive $100,000.
"Youth workforce development programs are a solid investment in young Minnesotans and in communities around our state," stated DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek in a news release. "The services Youthbuild providers offer young people are life changing — they make a difference and help open a world of future opportunities."
The program, serving about 600 young people in the state, also expands affordable housing in underserved communities.
"Youthbuild helps ensure young Minnesotans facing barriers to completing their high school education have the support they need to successfully earn a diploma and prepare for fulfilling employment," stated DEED Deputy Commissioner of Workforce Development Marc Majors.
"Youthbuild helps young people prepare for a strong career path in the construction trades where they can earn a family-sustaining wage. The program also helps build or renovate affordable housing."
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The bill would define e-bikes as having output of no more than 750 watts, and motorized bicycles, 750-1,500 watts. Anything with higher power is defined as an electric motorcycle. -
Three of the communities receiving grant funding in this cycle are in Northern Minnesota: Floodwood, Fosston and Deer River. -
Lorie ShaullRising health care costs are stressing K-12 teachers whose pay is already estimated to lag similarly educated professionals by more than 30%, according to a 2025 study. -
Plus: Local and regional political organizers have been endorsing candidates for state and federal office; and a Hermantown speaker wins category while 22 other Northland speakers earned medals in state tourney. -
The bill would establish rules for field trip supervision, improve mandatory reporting to include grooming and create a new felony offense for child grooming. -
Contributed/Karina Kafka / Report for MinnesotaThe secret war began in 1961, and the Central Intelligence Agency sought out around 50,000 Hmong and Lao men to be proxy soldiers for the U.S. -
Larissa Donovan/KAXEThe project is one of Essentia's two recent emergency department expansions in Northern Minnesota. -
Contributed/Cass County Sheriff's OfficeThe search effort for Jamie Lyle Lucas, who was last seen on July 3, 2020, coincides with his birthday. Authorities seek public assistance with the investigation. -
Contributed/Staples-Motley Speech via FacebookSpeakers from Bemidji, Cass Lake-Bena, Pequot Lakes, Pillager, Walker, Laporte, Cherry, Mountain Iron-Buhl, Red Lake County, UNC, Staples-Motley and Crookston took home hardware. -
And: Experts say Minnesota has tools to counter growing wildfire risk.
