DEED Awards Funding that Supports People Who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing or DeafBlind

ST. PAUL – Programs that provide career and training services for people who are deaf, hard of hearing or DeafBlind were awarded $950,000 in grants by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).

The agency’s Vocational Rehabilitation Services unit approved the funding for the Minnesota Employment Center for People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing in St. Paul, the VECTOR Program in Brooklyn Park, and Career Ventures Inc. in St. Paul.

“People with disabilities are an underutilized source of talent in the Minnesota workforce,” said DEED Commissioner Shawntera Hardy. “These grants will support programs that prepare people with sight and hearing disabilities for career opportunities.”

Vocational Rehabilitation Services will oversee the funding, which will run from July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2018, and will be renewable for a second year, pending program outcomes.

The following is an overview of the programs and the funding they received:

Minnesota Employment Center for People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, $450,000

The center, managed by Rise Inc. and Lifetrack Resources, will provide ongoing statewide employment support services for Minnesotans who are deaf, hard of hearing or DeafBlind.

Contacts: Blaine Newberg at bnewberg@rise.org or Elise Knopf at Elise.Knopf@state.mn.us

VECTOR program, $412,214

The program, managed by Intermediate School District 287, provides school-based communication, access and employment services for transition-aged youth who are deaf, hard of hearing or DeafBlind.

Contacts: Christina L. Sundae at clsundae@district287.org or Elise Knopf at Elise.Knopf@state.mn.us

Career Ventures Inc., $87,786

The program provides transition services to identified schools in the Twin Cities area that have youth who are deaf, hard of hearing or DeafBlind. Contacts: Wendy DeVore at wdevore@careerventures.com or Elise Knopf at Elise.Knopf@state.mn.us

DEED is the state’s principal economic development agency, promoting business recruitment, expansion and retention, workforce development, international trade and community development. For more details about the agency and its services, visit the DEED website or follow DEED on Twitter.