Our mission is to develop and advance the workforce of Southeast Minnesota.
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May
is
Military Appreciation Month
, a special month for both those in and out of the military.
We honor the service and sacrifice of veterans and active duty Air Force, Army,
Coast Guard, Marines, Navy, National Guard, and Reserves;
as well as the contribution of their families.
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Meet Wayne Stenberg
Executive Director, Semcac
Retired Air Force Active/Reserves Veteran
Retired E-9 Chief Master Sergeant
24 years of service
SE MN Workforce Development Board Member
since 2004
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Thank you for your service to our country. Tell me about your military career and what/who influenced you to join the Air Force?
I started my career in the Active Air Force and retired as an E-9, Chief Master Sergeant in the Air Force Reserves. My brother was in the Navy and encouraged me to join the armed forces. I was undecided in college and thought it would be best to join the Air Force and invest in the Montgomery GI bill.
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Spotlight on the Rice County Office
Workforce Development, Inc. (WDI)
Faribault, Minnesota
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"Let Us Help You Grow" Career Tree
at the Faribault WorkForce Center
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The
Faribault WorkForce Center
is home to a small but mighty group of workforce professionals who have made a conscious decision to design flexible programming to meet the needs of the uniquely diverse population we serve.
The
Faribault office
offers a welcoming environment. There is a selection of coffee or tea and a place to rest while waiting. The staff will greet you and ask if you need assistance when you enter the Resource Area. What’s most evident is that it’s consistently open to growth and change.
-Sonji Davis, WDI Rice County Area Manager
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Rebecca Zoubek and
Crystal Zimmerman
(WDI Career Planners) and
Sonji Davis (WDI Area Manager) painting the Career Tree wall
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May: Featured Taskforce
Salute Southern MN - Veterans Network
Salute Southern MN
offers employment mentoring for veterans with finding the right career for you, navigating the job search and application, resume and interviewing assistance, and networking with professionals in a variety of industries. We work to pair you up with someone in your area of interest, if available, or someone who may relate to your experience. We encourage you to reach out today if you are a veteran interested in this opportunity or would just like to learn more about us.
Learn More About Salute Southern MN:
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Our Mission:
"
Salute Southern MN
exists to create an atmosphere of camaraderie and trust within the local community of Active Duty, Guardsmen, Reservists, Veterans, and their families. As a regional network of employers, educators, non-profits, and support services, we focus our skills to mentor, educate, and enhance the futures for our participants through education, employment, support services and networking."
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Salute Southern MN
will have the opportunity to connect with National Guard members, currently serving with B Company, 2-135 Infantry, and their family members at a
Family BBQ
event on
Sunday, August 5
.
The BBQ is being sponsored by Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Southeast Minnesota.
Salute Southern MN
members will attend to connect with the soldiers and to provide information on employment and mentoring services.
Salute
is looking forward to meeting and connecting with the Guardsmen and their families!
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Fast Facts From The Southeast Region
(Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, and Winona counties)
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8.7%
of the population 18 years and older are Veterans.
94.1%
of the Veteran population is male;
5.9%
is female.
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Veterans 25 Years/Older - SE MN Region
6.4%
Less Than High School Diploma
35.6%
High School Diploma or Equivalent
35.5%
Some College/Associates Degree
22.5%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
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The
median income
in the last 12 months for the Veteran population living in the
SE MN Region was
$36,953
.
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*Data from the U.S. Census American Community Survey, 2012-2016, 5-year Estimates
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WDI Awarded Pathways to Prosperity Grants Totaling $975,000:
The Largest Award to Any Agency in Minnesota!
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The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has awarded WDI
three Pathways to Prosperity Grants totaling
$975,000 over two years. The individual grants selected were:
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The Bridges to Public Sector Careers Pathway ($200,000)
will utilize programming to build in-demand foundational skills including technology and customer service training. The grant will be used to target public assistance recipients and minorities throughout the region, working with Adult Basic Education (ABE) and the Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC).
The River Region Manufacturing Pipeline: Ex-offender Pathway ($350,000)
is a unique collaboration designed to assist with filling the hiring needs of the Manufacturing Sector in SE MN. The grant will be used to target those in jail or previously incarcerated in the counties of Goodhue, Wabasha, Houston, and Winona; partnering with the Winona WorkForce Center, ABE, and MN State College Southeast.
The Building Carpenters Pathway ($425,000) will allow us to recruit new people in SE MN into the construction field, especially women, people from minority populations, and the previously incarcerated. The grant will be used to offer construction training programs, so as to increase the number of well-trained trades people working in the market.
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Building Pathways to a Brighter Future
"I was looking for a career I could support my family with. I was stuck in a part-time job, living paycheck to paycheck. I don't have family that I can rely on, so I have to work really hard not to fall behind."
Nikki, WDI Customer
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WDI Training Update:
Skilled Construction Craft Laborer Training Launched on May 7
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News Release:
2018 "Best Places to Work" in Southeast Minnesota
Twelve area employers representing Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, and Wabasha Counties now have a new tool at their disposal. The following companies were recognized as the
“Best Places to Work” in Southeast Minnesota at a banquet on April 26, 2018, at the Rochester International Event Center.
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Small Employer Category
(Under 75 Employees)
Custom Alarm / CCI - Rochester
Minnesota Freezer Warehouse Co. - Albert Lea
Semcac - Rushford
Southeast Service Cooperative - Rochester
Mid-Size Employer Category
(75-200 Employees)
Austin Utilities
- Austin
City of Albert Lea
Cooperative Response Center
- Austin
Family Services Rochester
Large Employer Category
(Over 200 Employees)
Hearth and Home Technologies, Inc. - Lake City
Henkel Company - Cannon Falls
Innovance Inc. - Albert Lea
Pace Dairy Foods - Rochester
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Save the Date
May 28:
Memorial Day,
WDI Offices Closed
June 7:
Workforce Development Board and Taskforce Committee Meetings, WDI, Rochester
June 14:
SE MN Joint Powers Board Meeting
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Pictured:
Betsy Andrews, David LeGarde, and Desirae Dyke
(WDI Career Planners)
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Recent Events
April 26:
Zumbro Education District - Alternative Learning Center -
Career and Resource Fair
May 3:
Mayo Clinic Project SEARCH interns
presentation at the Workforce Development Board meeting
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Current Job Openings at WDI
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Full-time
Tri-City Bridge Mentor
Part-time
Youthbuild Instructor
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SE Minnesota Employment Trends
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Learn More about the
Healthcare Sector
in the Upcoming June Issue!
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Workforce Development, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Program Provider and a proud partner of the American Job Center Network.
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Connect with your local WDI office on Facebook:
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