March 2026
3/26/2026 1:43:31 PM
St. Paul, Minn. - The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has awarded more than $1.6 million in Youth Support Services investments to 21 organizations around the state to prepare underserved young adults for successful employment. The grants are anticipated to serve over 1,900 young people from low-income communities, communities of color and young adults from families with a history of intergenerational poverty.
DEED's Youth Support Services competitive grant program provides grants to organizations that offer job training, employment preparation, internships, job assistance to parents, financial literacy, academic and behavioral interventions for low-performing students, and youth intervention activities.
"The supportive services provided by grantees help young people break the cycle of poverty and envision an economically self-sufficient future for themselves," said DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek. "When we invest in young Minnesotans, we are investing in stronger communities and a stronger state economy."
"Investments in support services are critical to a young person's opportunity to participate in strong employment and training programs," said DEED Deputy Commissioner for Workforce Development Marc Majors. "When young people can access the resources they need to complete training, they can thrive and enter career pathways that lead to family-sustaining wages."
Approximately 61% of this year's Youth Support Services funds were allocated to organizations in the Twin Cities metro area, 34% were allocated to Greater Minnesota and 5% were allocated to organizations serving areas in both the Twin Cities metro and Greater Minnesota.
Youth Support Services grantees announced today are listed below:
| Organization |
Area Served |
Two-Year Funding |
|---|---|---|
| American Indian Opportunities Industrialization Center | Twin Cities metro | $80,000 |
| Banyan Community | Minneapolis | $72,500 |
| Breakthrough Twin Cities | Twin Cities metro | $80,000 |
| Career Solutions | Benton and Stearns Counties | $80,000 |
| Central Minnesota Jobs and Training Services | Central Minnesota | $80,000 |
| Change, Inc. | Twin Cities metro | $70,000 |
| City Academy | St. Paul | $80,000 |
| City of Duluth Workforce Development | Duluth | $80,000 |
| Cristo Rey Jesuit High School Twin Cities | Twin Cities metro | $80,000 |
| Elpis Enterprises | St. Paul and Minneapolis | $80,000 |
| Face to Face Health & Counseling Service | Ramsey County | $80,000 |
| Goodwill Easter Seals Minnesota | Willmar, St. Cloud, Buffalo | $80,000 |
| Hmong American Partnership | Twin Cities metro | $80,000 |
| Propel Nonprofits | Twin Cities metro and Greater Minnesota | $80,000 |
| Sabathani Community Center | Minneapolis | $80,000 |
| Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council | South Central and Southwest Minnesota | $80,000 |
| The Urban Village | Ramsey County | $80,000 |
| Tree Trust | Twin Cities metro | $80,000 |
| Urban Roots MN | Ramsey County | $80,000 |
| White Earth Band of Chippewa | White Earth Reservation | $80,000 |
| Workforce Development, Inc. | Southeast Minnesota | $80,000 |
| Total State Fiscal Year 26-27 award | - | $1,662,500 |
communities
grants
workforce
job training
