RMCEP News
Northwest Region Blog
The presence of such industry powerhouses as Polaris, Arctic Cat and New Flyer make Northwest Minnesota a hub of transportation equipment manufacturing.
From wheat and potatoes to soybeans and sugar beets, the region is a major producer and processor of food staples and specialty agricultural products. Click here to view the blog.
News Articles

Governor Walz Highlights Efforts to Grow Minnesota’s Workforce During Workforce Development Month
Sep 6 2023Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan today are celebrating Workforce Development Month and highlighting efforts to connect Minnesotans to high-growth, high-demand jobs through job training and workforce development programs.“From youth training programs to workforce development grants, we have many tools in our wheelhouse to recruit and train workers...

In May, Tina Jaster stepped into the role of Executive Director at Rural Minnesota CEP (RMCEP). As someone who’s worked at RMCEP for over 30 years, Jaster will bring crucial experience to the position. She succeeds Vicki Leaderbrand, who instilled in the organization the ability to adapt to rapid change...
Bemidji Veterans Home Career Fair a Success!
Aug 26 2023Approximately 65 to 70 people showed up to the Bemidji Veterans Home event on August 16. Approximately 35 people came over to our RMCEP office to apply for their open positions utilizing our computers in the Career Lab. See the fair in action below!...

Community Development of Morrison County works to ensure businesses can invest in Morrison County.
Whether it’s helping a new business get started, or an existing business expand, Carol Anderson, executive director, is busy.
During a July planning session, Anderson updated the County Board about what’s been going on...

RMCEP’s Restoring Connections Grant Program: A Fresh Start for Justice-Involved Individuals
Jul 24 2023Rural Minnesota CEP (RMCEP) has introduced a competitive grant program, “Restoring Connections,” which will help justice-involved MN residents rejoin the workforce. Through programming and training services, RMCEP will create opportunities for participants to secure employment and support regional industries.
RMCEP will serve 38 participants through the program. The program’s...
New Website Shows that Rural Minnesota CEP is Here for Everyone
DETROIT LAKES, MN -- Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program (RMCEP) is happy to announce the launch of its newly redesigned website, https://www.rmcep.com/, created in partnership with Golden Shovel Agency. The revamped website reflects RMCEP’s commitment to providing an...
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Rural MN CEP Career Force’s CLIMB Program: Transforming Dislocated Workers into Entrepreneurs
Jun 28 2023As a participant of Rural MN CEP Career Force’s Converting Layoffs into MN Businesses (CLIMB) Program, Kimberly Gillette was able to transform a career crisis into the creation of her dreams. Designed to assist aspiring entrepreneurs in the state-funded Dislocated Worker (DW) program, the CLIMB Program supports business launches or...

n an effort to continue their mission of bridging would-be employees to employers, Rural Minnesota CEP in Bemidji held their annual Spring Bumper-to-Bumper Job Fair.
The event saw several businesses from a number of fields such as healthcare, manufacturing, and education set up tables and gave out information from...

Originally aired May 11, 2023 on Lakeland News

Job fair attracts crowds at Wadena National Guard Armory
Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program Inc. hosted a job fair on April 12, 2023, at the Wadena National Guard Armory that was open to students and then, later that day, to the public.
Wadena-Deer Creek High School...

Rural MN CEP in Washington DC: Fighting for the Future of Concentrated Employment Programs
May 6 2023From March 25th-29th, officials from Rural MN CEP attended the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) 2023 Forum to advocate for concentrated employment programs, network with other workforce organizations, and more. The team from Rural MN CEP included: Vicki Leaderbrand, Executive Director; Tina Jaster, Director of Operations; Ed Bolas, Workforce...

On May 26th, 2023, Vicki Leaderbrand will retire as Executive Director of Rural MN CEP. Serving as Executive Director from 2019 to 2023, Leaderbrand’s time was partially defined by a global pandemic and a changing economic landscape. Despite the social and economic turbulence, Leaderbrand was able to expand Rural MN...

Rural Minnesota CEP helped KLN Family Brands implement a welding training program that improved their workforce, provided opportunities, and gave their business more freedom.
For many workers, it's difficult to develop skills, transition into other industries, or gain certifications. For many employers, producing training programs for an entire workforce...

Fifty employers to attend Rural Minnesota CEP job fair at M State on March 29; job market remains tight
Mar 24 2023About 50 businesses from across Becker County and west-central Minnesota are expected to attend the annual spring job fair on March 29 at M State in Detroit Lakes.
The event is hosted by Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program and the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce and may be...