Moorhead Business Association Let’s Talk Business Breakfast Event Recap

At Wednesday’s Moorhead Business Association Let’s Talk Business breakfast event we heard from Aaron Johnson and Theresa Hazeman of the Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program (Rural MnCEP).  They talked first about the history of their organization.  The Rural MnCEP was founded in 1968 under the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act.  Since then the organization was combined with the Workforce Center and has been compounded with other organizations that provide a variety of employment services.  The Rural MnCEP has 12 employees and is governed by a board of directors.

Johnson and Hazeman talked about some of the programs that their organization offers, which serve youth, adults, and senior citizens.  They receive funding from the federal government and the state of Minnesota to fund county initiatives.  They also work with disabled workers.  There are a variety of services offered through Rural MnCEP.  At their resource center on 11th Street in Moorhead they have computers that can be used for resume building and job applications.  They perform mock interviews and assist with career planning, resume building, social media, and networking.  Employers can also post openings and conduct interviews at the resource center.

There are a variety of other programs offered, such as on the job training and short-term work training opportunities where MnCEP pays the employee wages.  Johnson and Hazeman also talked about their work with New Americans through the New American Job Fair and the increasing diversity of the FM Area.

Next week’s Let’s Talk Business breakfast will feature Megan Myrdal of Ugly Food of the North.