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
Leigh wanted to pursue a new career path to help support his family. With a wife and child at home, he was motivated to secure reliable, full-time employment that would allow him to regain financial self‑sufficiency and provide for his family.To support this transition, Leigh enrolled in the Drive for...
September is Workforce Development Month!
Sep 2 2026In Minnesota, we celebrate Workforce Development month in September — a time to highlight how workforce development professionals across the state are connecting Minnesotans with employment and helping employers hire the staff they need for their businesses to thrive. It's also an opportunity to reach out to those with barriers...
Are you curious or interested in what the growing cannabis business in Minnesota has to offer? Are you looking to jump-start a new career in the cannabis industry? If yes, Rural Minnesota CEP, Inc., can help provide information, answers, and the training to do so. RMCEP has obtained funding to...
Justin has always been someone who takes pride in his work and in providing for his family. As a husband and father of five, he understands the importance of steady employment and long‑term stability. When the nonprofit organization he worked for closed and he was laid off from his non‑CDL...
Minnesota Job Growth Outpaces U.S. Over the Year
Aug 20 2026New data from July show that over the year, Minnesota added 44,092 jobs, a 1.5% increase that significantly outpaced the national job growth rate of 0.2% according to data released by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). Minnesota's private sector also grew 1.5% over the year compared...
Finding employment after a long time out of the workforce can be a major challenge, even if a person has work experience and educational credentials.Cherie came to Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program (RMCEP) after being out of work for four years. Cherie held an Associate of Arts degree and while...
Northwest Minnesota's unemployment rate is rising, and 2026 is off to its highest start of the decade. If you stop there, the story sounds alarming.But a single labor market data point rarely tells a true story, and this time is not an exception. Beneath the headline unemployment rate lies a...
Companies across northwest Minnesota can apply for the Good Jobs Employer Designation, an initiative by Rural Minnesota CEP, Inter-County Community Council, and the Regional Workforce Alliance that recognizes companies for making employees feel valued, supported, and connected to a purpose.“Many employers are already doing the right things: they invest in...
In the first six months of successful operations, about 75,000 Minnesotans have been approved to receive benefit payments under the state's new Paid Leave program, according to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). Paid Leave offers payments and job protections to Minnesota workers who need time to...
Lori came to Leading CareerForce Partner Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program (RMCEP) after a recent mass layoff that ended her 32-year tenure with the same employer. Lori was suddenly faced with the uncertainty of unemployment after decades of stable work. The transition was both financially and emotionally challenging, as she...
Minnesota's job numbers for May are a mixed bag.The state saw job growth and a small drop in unemployment, which fell to 4.4 percent in May. But that’s at least partially because fewer people are looking for jobs.“The unemployment rate going down is a mix of more people getting jobs,...
"RMCEP didn't just help me start my education, it helped me change the course of my life."
Jun 23 2026Stephanie came to Leading CareerForce Partner Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program (RMCEP) in late 2014 looking for help with school. She felt the idea of college was "out of reach" for her at the time, especially as a single mom of a two-year-old. RMCEP provided the financial support, confidence and...
Melody was a Pathways to Prosperity (P2P) program participant at the Fergus Falls office of Leading CareerForce partner Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program (RMCEP). Melody was formerly incarcerated and is currently in recovery from addiction; she overcame these significant barriers to employment and is now working full-time and progressing toward...
Team members from the Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program (CEP) attended the annual conference for the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) and Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). This state-level conference featured valuable discussions about building community connections, establishing adult career pathways, and empowering workers through technology.The conference also...
Rural Minnesota CEP, Inc. is proud to support Minnesota RETAIN (Retaining Employment and Talent After Injury/Illness Network) by promoting the valuable services available for individuals seeking to return to work after an illness or injury and employers who need support to identify and fund necessary accommodations. RETAIN is a free,...
Zackeria’s story: Leading CareerForce Partner helps him find hope and the path to a brighter future
Apr 23 2026“At the age of 29 I reached a point of complete hopelessness in my life. I was caught in a seemingly endless cycle of directionless chaos. I would find someone to move in with, lie to an employer about having graduated high school so I could get a halfway decent...
Rural Minnesota CEP is currently accepting applications for the 2026-27 Drive for Five cohort. This program offers career counseling, training recommendations, and job placement assistance in one of five in-demand career fields. Drive for Five is designed to help people who traditionally face barriers to employment, including those who are...
Gain hands-on work experience in STEM-related career fields through the Phoenix Student Worker Program
Mar 18 2026Gain hands-on work experience in STEM-related career fields through the Phoenix Student Worker Program at the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT).As a Phoenix student, you will work with MnDOT professionals on meaningful projects that shape Minnesota’s transportation future while building valuable skills for your career. Step beyond the basics and...
Northwest Minnesota Foundation Awards Contract to RMCEP to Build Early Childhood Education Workforce
Mar 11 2026The Northwest Minnesota Foundation awarded a year-long contract to the Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program (RMCEP) to strengthen the early childhood education workforce across the region it serves.The goal of this contract is to expand awareness of early childhood education careers, support participants as they explore training pathways, and help...
Success Story: Marmaduke Mounts
Oct 29 2025When Marmaduke Mounts first connected with Rural MN CEP, he was underemployed but determined to create a better future for his family. With prior experience driving tow and box trucks, Marmaduke knew he had the skills — and the passion — to pursue something more. “I like driving!” he shared...