DEED outlines statewide workforce, broadband and small‑business programs; lawmakers press on grant oversight

ST. PAUL — Department of Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Matt Verlick told the Minnesota House Workforce Committee on Jan. 8 that his agency seeks to “empower the growth of the Minnesota economy for everyone,” framing DEED’s combined economic‑development and workforce responsibilities as a way to connect workers to employer needs.

The presentation outlined DEED’s major program areas — business finance and community development, the Minnesota Trade Office, broadband development, and labor market analysis — and described how the agency pairs workforce services such as CareerForce centers with employer‑focused programs, apprenticeship supports and small‑business assistance. “We increasingly are seeking to work even better with our fellow agencies,” Verlick said, noting the agency’s role coordinating state workforce resources and the Governor’s Workforce Development Board.

Committee members pressed DEED on two recurring themes: how the agency paced distribution of large new grants passed by the Legislature the previous session, and how DEED is preparing for uncertainty in…