The Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), through its Adult Career Pathways Programs, is seeking proposals from qualified responders to provide services through the Drive for 5 Initiative Competitive Grants.
Donor Name: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)
State: Minnesota
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 10/03/2025
Size of the Grant: $500,000 to $1 million
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
Drive for 5 Competitive Grants must provide workforce development services, work-based learning opportunities, and job placement and retention in 1) Technology, 2) Labor, 3) The Caring Professions, 4) Manufacturing, and 5) Educational and Professional Services.
Priorities
It is the policy of the State of Minnesota to ensure fairness, precision, equity, and consistency in competitive grant awards. This includes implementing diversity and inclusion in grant-making.
Department of Administration, Office of Grants Management (OGM) Policy 08-02 establishes the expectation that grant programs intentionally identify how the grant serves diverse populations, especially populations experiencing inequities and/or disparities. This grant will serve persons from communities of color and/or low-income communities. Grant outcomes will include:
- Outcomes as required in Minnesota Statute 116L.98
- Outcomes as listed within the “Measurable Outcomes” section of “Form 3.
- Work Plan” in the application.
Funding Inforamtion
- Eligible organizations may apply for up to $350,000 each year, for a maximum of $700,000 total under the Drive for 5 – Job Placement Services RFP.
- Awarded funds for SFY 2027 will be available 7/1/2026 through 6/30/2027.
Target Populations
All Drive for 5 – Job Placement Services programs must serve:
- Employers with current or anticipated employment opportunities in the Drive for 5 industry sectors (Technology, Labor, The Caring Professions, Manufacturing, Educational and Professional services) AND;
- Graduates of Drive for 5 – Industry Sector Training programs
Applicants providing diversity, inclusion, and retention training of their members in addition to job placement services for Drive for 5 – Industry Sector Training programs must serve:
- Graduates of Drive for 5 – Industry Sector Training programs AND;
- Members of a trade association and its employers or
- Members of Chambers of Commerce
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible applicants must be one of the following:
- Chambers of Commerce (with 501(c)6 tax filing)
- Trade associations (with 501(c)6 tax filing)
Applicant organizations and their partners must have a registration in good standing with the Minnesota Secretary of State, must have 501(c)6 status or other recognized tax-exempt designation, and be in good standing with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). All applicants must have a physical location, open to the public at designated times, in the State of Minnesota. These requirements must be met at the time of application and throughout the term of the grant.
For more information visit DEED.
