Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Archives

Minnesota Economist: Broadband Grants Ought to Generate a Return on Investment

December 24, 2022December 23, 2022 The Center Square

Minnesota will award $27 million in state funding and $42.6 million in federal funding to broadband expansion projects across the state.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development on Monday launched a request for proposals for the funding. The funding supports the state’s goal that all homes and businesses have access `to broadband with download speeds of at least 100 megabits per second and upload speeds of at least 20 megabits per second by 2026, the news release said.

Minnesota Launches Grants to Help Convicts Reenter Workforce

October 10, 2022October 9, 2022 The Center Square

Minnesota will spend $3 million in fiscal years 2023-2024 to help Minnesotans who have served their prison sentences reenter the workforce, the state announced Friday.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development said it received up to $10 million in First Step Initiative funding from the U.S. Department of Labor and Department of Justice to support formerly incarcerated individuals transition back to the community.

$4.3M Minnesota Taxpayer Subsidies Expected to Create 321 Jobs

August 20, 2022August 20, 2022 The Center Square

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development will give $4.3 million of taxpayer money to five private businesses through the Minnesota Job Creation Fund and the Minnesota Investment Fund.

The state says these projects will create 321 jobs over the next three years and will eventually boost the local tax base.

Minnesota Taxpayers Spending $3 Million on Malls

November 30, 2021November 29, 2021 The Center Square

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced recipients of the $3 million Minnesota Cultural Mall Operator Grants program.

The Legislature passed the $64 million bipartisan Main Street COVID-19 Relief package in 2021 and Gov. Tim Walz signed it into law, which will award grants ranging from $20,000 to $300,000 to 12 cultural mall operators across Minnesota whose facilities lease space to a total of over 1,178 Black, Indigenous, and People of Color business owners.

Minnesota Will Receive $300 Weekly in Unemployment Benefits Under FEMA Grant

August 31, 2020August 30, 2020 Corinne Murdock

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved for Minnesotans to receive $300 in weekly unemployment benefits this fall. FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor issued the grant through the Lost Wages Supplemental Payment Assistance program.

The approval comes one day after Governor Tim Walz announced his decision to apply for additional unemployment payments. Walz explained this was a necessary decision based on the continued COVID-19 mandates.