RMCEP Grant (Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program)

RMCEP Grant (Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program) is sponsored by Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). This grant supports career development in young adults with disabilities ages 16-24, helping them with long-term career goals, job training, education, and developing support systems.

News and Resources at RMCEP The presence of such industry powerhouses as Polaris, Arctic Cat and New Flyer make Northwest Minnesota a hub of transportation equipment manufacturing. From wheat and potatoes to soybeans and sugar beets, the region is a major producer and processor of food staples and specialty agricultural products. Click here to view the blog.

-- Select One -- Business/FInance/Economy Events Career Advsing Career Advising Free Training OSHA Youth Business Tips Healthcare Employment Awards and Recognition RFP News Success Stories Inspire Join DEED for an Employer Webinar - Unlocking Accessibility: How ERAF Can Transform Your Business Hosted by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)Discover how the Employer Reasonable Accommodation Fund (ERAF) can help your business thrive while fostering a more accessible workplace.

Small to mid-sized businesses in Minnesota can receive reimbursements of up to $30,000 for providing reasonable accommodations for job applicants and... Continue Reading Pathways to Prosperity client sparks new future Melody was a Pathways to Prosperity (P2P) program participant at the Fergus Falls office of Leading CareerForce partner Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program (RMCEP).

Melody was formerly incarcerated and is currently in recovery from addiction; she overcame these significant barriers to employment and is now working full-time and progressing toward...

Continue Reading Three Rural Minnesota CEP Employees Recognized at the 2026 MFIP/Tribal TANF Conference Team members from the Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program (CEP) attended the annual conference for the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) and Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

This state-level conference featured valuable discussions about building community connections, establishing adult career pathways, and empowering workers through technology. The conference also...

Continue Reading RMCEP Expands Minnesota RETAIN Support Across the Region Rural Minnesota CEP, Inc. is proud to support Minnesota RETAIN (Retaining Employment and Talent After Injury/Illness Network) by promoting the valuable services available for individuals seeking to return to work after an illness or injury and employers who need support to identify and fund necessary accommodations. RETAIN is a free,...

Continue Reading Zackeria’s story: Leading CareerForce Partner helps him find hope and the path to a brighter future “At the age of 29 I reached a point of complete hopelessness in my life. I was caught in a seemingly endless cycle of directionless chaos. I would find someone to move in with, lie to an employer about having graduated high school so I could get a halfway decent...

Continue Reading Drive for Five Invites Job Seekers to Launch Careers in In-Demand Fields Rural Minnesota CEP is currently accepting applications for the 2026-27 Drive for Five cohort. This program offers career counseling, training recommendations, and job placement assistance in one of five in-demand career fields. Drive for Five is designed to help people who traditionally face barriers to employment, including those who are...

Continue Reading Gain hands-on work experience in STEM-related career fields through the Phoenix Student Worker Program Gain hands-on work experience in STEM-related career fields through the Phoenix Student Worker Program at the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT).

As a Phoenix student, you will work with MnDOT professionals on meaningful projects that shape Minnesota’s transportation future while building valuable skills for your career. Step beyond the basics and...

Continue Reading Northwest Minnesota Foundation Awards Contract to RMCEP to Build Early Childhood Education Workforce The Northwest Minnesota Foundation awarded a year-long contract to the Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program (RMCEP) to strengthen the early childhood education workforce across the region it serves.

The goal of this contract is to expand awareness of early childhood education careers, support participants as they explore training pathways, and help... Continue Reading Leading CareerForce partner helps Kathryn clear the path to her dream job After 26 years of dedicated service at the Brainerd Dispatch, Kathryn faced an unexpected layoff that left her uncertain about the future.

As a single mother of three, the path forward seemed daunting—especially with her dream of driving a snowplow for the county or state requiring a Commercial Driver’s License... Continue Reading Governor Walz Announces Millions in Workforce Training Grants Governor Tim Walz and the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) today announced the recipients of $8.

8 million in grants to grow Minnesota's workforce through the Drive for 5 Workforce initiative. Drive for 5 is the state's program for preparing Minnesotans for high-demand jobs in five occupational categories: the...

Continue Reading Pathways to Prosperity Exceeds Expectations in 2025, and is Enrolling Participants for 2026 In 2025, the Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program (RMCEP) set a goal to enroll 40 participants in its Pathways to Prosperity (P2P) grant. It exceeded expectations with 48 participants, of whom 36 completed credentialed or pre-employment training.

By the end of the year, 31 participants entered employment after leaving the program,... Continue Reading I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for the grants and assistance I have received through your program to pursue my Registered Nurse (RN) education. Your support has been instrumental in helping me focus on my studies and reduce the financial burden that often comes with higher education.

This program... Continue Reading After becoming unemployed at nearly 50 years old, I found myself facing a future filled with uncertainty. Although I had earned a bachelor's degree earlier in life, the idea of returning to an educational environment after so many years felt daunting.

I truly believed that starting over simply wasn't an... Continue Reading DEED Awards $17. 3 Million for Workforce Development and Job Training For Immediate ReleaseJanuary 13, 2026St.

Paul, MN – The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) today announced more than $17. 3 million for workforce grants that are expected to serve more than 3,500 Minnesotans. The 59 organizations receiving Pathways to Prosperity program grant awards support economically disadvantaged adults, providing workforce...

Continue Reading RMCEP’s AgPaths Initiative Strengthens Minnesota’s Agriculture Workforce Rural Minnesota Concentration Employment Program (CEP) is proud to launch AgPaths, an initiative that will create agriculture-sector career pathways across the region. AgPaths is made possible through a $500,000 Growing Careers Grant, which is supported by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).

The AgPaths program enables RMCEP to... Continue Reading DEED Awards $4. 8 Million to Support Youth Workforce Development Initiatives he Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has awarded more than $4.

8 million to 39 organizations to provide more than 4,000 young people with workforce development and training opportunities. DEED's Youth at Work Opportunity Grants Program serves youth of color and youth with disabilities who are economically disadvantaged or...

Continue Reading Success Story: Marmaduke Mounts When Marmaduke Mounts first connected with Rural MN CEP, he was underemployed but determined to create a better future for his family. With prior experience driving tow and box trucks, Marmaduke knew he had the skills — and the passion — to pursue something more. “I like driving!

” he shared... Continue Reading