(KNSI) – Three regional organizations are receiving part of $1.6 million in grants from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development to help raise up the next generation currently living in poverty.
The Youth Support Services grants went to 21 organizations statewide, aimed at helping underserved young adults find a foothold in the workforce. Among them are Central Minnesota Jobs and Training Services in Monticello, Goodwill Easter Seals Minnesota serving Willmar, St. Cloud and Buffalo, and Career Solutions based at St. Cloud Technical and Community College, which serves Benton and Stearns Counties. Each group received $80,000.
The investments are expected to benefit more than 1,900 young people, with a focus on those from low-income communities, communities of color, and families with a history of intergenerational poverty.
DEED’s Youth Support Services competitive grant program funds organizations that provide a range of services, including job training, employment preparation, internships, financial literacy, academic and behavioral interventions for low-performing students, and youth intervention activities. Job assistance for parents is also among the supported offerings.
“Investments in support services are critical to a young person’s opportunity to participate in strong employment and training programs,” said DEED Deputy Commissioner for Workforce Development Marc Majors. “When young people can access the resources they need to complete training, they can thrive and enter career pathways that lead to family-sustaining wages.”
The bulk of this year’s funding, about 61%, was directed to organizations in the Twin Cities metro area, while 34% went to Greater Minnesota. The remaining 5% supported organizations serving both regions.
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