Rural Minnesota CEP Receives $3.8 Million Grant for Education and Training of Young Adults With Disabilities

The Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program (CEP) is proud to receive $3.8 million from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) to support young adults ages 14-24 with disabilities. These funds will be used to help recipients complete their post-secondary education and transition into the workforce.

“This grant can support residents with physical, mental, and developmental disabilities,” says Tina Jaster, Executive Director at Rural Minnesota CEP. “We recognize that not all disabilities are visible and want to help all young people break down barriers to getting the education and employment opportunities they deserve.”

Rural Minnesota CEP plans to open the application window for these grants fall 2025.

This Grant Provides Financial Support for Education and Workforce Development

Education doesn’t start when a student enters the classroom and hiring doesn’t start when an applicant submits a resume. Young adults complete several steps that prepare them to succeed once they enroll in school or sit for interviews. These steps are harder for some people than others. The grant from DEED will fund a variety of initiatives so anyone who wants to learn and enter the workforce can do so. A few costs this grant will cover include:

• Career pathways programming: Young adults can learn about different career options and how to pursue them. 
• Credentials attainment: Students can learn how to enter their desired career fields and get support to enroll in any necessary coursework. 
• Skills acquisition: Recipients can get the skills they need to succeed through internships, apprenticeships, and other training programs. 
• Work-based learning: Local companies can hire Minnesotans with disabilities and give them paid work experience.

Following this path can make young people with disabilities more qualified to enter the workforce. They can have stronger resumes and proven work experience that makes them desirable to employers.  

Supporting People With Disabilities Helps Employees and Employers

This DEED grant is designed to help young adults with disabilities, but it will also benefit employers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 43.7% of people with disabilities who were not working faced some sort of barrier to employment. When asked what prevented them from working, 12% reported a lack of education and training, while 10.5% said they needed special accommodations on their job. Rural Minnesota CEP can help residents overcome the education and training barriers while local employers can see that hiring workers with disabilities is a sound investment.

“Our goal is to get more people with disabilities into the workplace,” says Jaster. “When local employers see how these employees do their jobs just as well, they are more likely to hire people with disabilities again. This creates more accessible and equitable workplaces for the future.”

The unemployment rate for people with disabilities in 2024 was 9.1 percent, more than double the unemployment rate for people without disabilities (4.2 percent). The funding Rural Minnesota CEP gives to residents with disabilities can help reduce barriers to employment so people who want to work can.  

This Grant is Part of Larger State and National Efforts 

The $3.8 million that Rural Minnesota CEP received to support residents with disabilities is part of a larger $12 million award provided by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy to the state of Minnesota. DEED then distributed those funds to various organizations throughout the state.

"With near-record low unemployment, Minnesota employers are looking for new ways to find workers who can fill positions in high-growth industries," says Matt Varilek, DEED Commissioner. "Preparing young people with disabilities to thrive in the labor force is part of DEED's mission to empower the growth of Minnesota's economy, for everyone."

This grant will be available in 2025 for residents with disabilities who need help funding their college educations vocational training, and other job preparation costs. For now, interested parties can reach out to Rural Minnesota CEP to learn more about the grant and explore other college readiness tools and resources for young people.