Southeast Asian Economic Disparities Relief Competitive Grant

The Southeast Asian Economic Disparities Relief Competitive Grant is administered by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) through its Office of Adult Career Pathways. The Office of Adult Career Pathways develops and implements workforce training programs for Minnesotans at all stages of their educational and career journeys, with a focus on adults facing multiple barriers to employment. These services aim to eliminate racial disparities, reduce large economic gaps, and increase access to literacy and high-growth, high-wage jobs. This funding opportunity is designed to relieve economic disparities in Minnesota’s Southeast Asian community through workforce recruitment, development, job creation, capacity building for smaller organizations, and culturally relevant outreach. For State Fiscal Years 2026 and 2027, DEED has allocated $1,000,000 per year for the program, with applicants able to request up to $200,000 annually, for a total maximum award of $400,000 over two years. Awards are intended to be evenly split across the two fiscal years. The grant period for SFY 2026 begins upon execution of the grant agreement and ends June 30, 2027, while SFY 2027 funds will be available from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. DEED will avoid partial awards whenever possible, but may adjust award amounts to achieve geographic and equity objectives. If a grantee cannot utilize awarded funds, DEED may reallocate them to other awardees who have demonstrated capacity. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, state or local government units (including Tribal governments), community action agencies, business organizations or trade associations, alternative secondary institutions or post-secondary institutions, and labor organizations. Applicants must have a Minnesota physical location open to the public, be registered and in good standing with the Minnesota Secretary of State, and for nonprofits, have recognized tax-exempt status with the IRS. Organizations need not be Southeast Asian-affiliated but must serve participants of Southeast Asian descent. Eligible participants must be Minnesota residents, authorized to work in the U.S., at least 18 years old, and not enrolled in K-12 education. Funded services must be culturally and linguistically relevant to Southeast Asian communities and can include workforce recruitment and outreach, employment preparation and skills training, job creation activities such as on-the-job training and internships, and capacity building for smaller organizations. All programs must align with in-demand, high-growth occupations identified in the applicant’s regional workforce development area. DEED encourages proposals that incorporate clean energy, STEM, or other demonstrably needed industries that lead to family-sustaining wages. Priority will be given to programs serving areas with historically high unemployment, low academic achievement, and below-sustainable median incomes. Applications are due via email to ACPgrants.deed@state.mn.us by 5:00 p.m. CST on August 28, 2025. The RFP was posted July 7, 2025, with an informational webinar on July 16, 2025, and questions accepted until August 21, 2025. Awards will be announced on October 8, 2025. Applications must include all required forms: Cover Sheet, Narrative Responses, Work Plan, Budget, Partnership Chart with letters of support, unemployment insurance consent, conflict of interest disclosures, and nonprofit financial documentation if applicable. Submissions must be compiled as a single PDF and late applications will not be accepted. Proposals will be evaluated on a 100-point scale across seven categories: organizational capacity and experience, program description, program implementation work plan, outreach and engagement work plan, partnerships and collaboration, performance and evaluation plans, and budget/fiscal capacity. Reviewers will assess program design, relevance to Southeast Asian community needs, realistic timelines, innovation, employer engagement, and measurable outcomes. The Commissioner of DEED makes final award decisions, with consideration for equity and geographic distribution. The grant requires compliance with state and federal regulations, reporting through DEED’s Workforce One system, quarterly narratives, monthly reimbursement requests, and participation in training and engagement sessions. Monitoring visits and financial reconciliations are required for awards over $50,000. For more information, contact Darcy Hokkanen, ACP Program Coordinator, at Darcy.Hokkanen@state.mn.us or 651-259-7124. Individuals needing alternative formats may request accommodations through DEED.

Align proposals with funder priorities and scoring rubrics, write clear narratives, craft effective work plans, and develop budgets with allowable, allocable, and reasonable costs