Senate panel hears appropriation request for Twin Cities Rise pay-for-performance workforce program

Senate File 19-32, a request for funding to support Twin Cities Rises pay-for-performance workforce model, was presented to the Senate Committee on Jobs and Economic Development. The bill requests one-time appropriations of $1,000,000 in FY2026 and $1,000,000 in FY2027 from the Workforce Development Fund to expand career training and placements.

Senator Champion, sponsor of the bill, and a DEED fiscal analyst reviewed the request and prior funding: Twin Cities Rise previously received $1,400,000 from the Workforce Development Fund in FY2022-23 and $2,400,000 in FY2024-25 from the General Fund. Emma Corey, president and CEO of Twin Cities Rise, described the organizations model: participants called "risers" receive personal empowerment and career training tailored to employer partners; Twin Cities Rise reports an average annual income increase of nearly $30,000 for participants and a one-year retention rate of 76%.

A program graduate, Quentin Osgood, testified about his path from incarceration to long-term employment and work as a program facilitator. Committee members asked about the statutory definition of "pay-for-performance" jobs; Corey said the state requires those jobs to be full-time, benefit-paying positions and that qualifying jobs are specified in statute (the committee was not given a statute citation in the hearing). She listed employer partnerships that drive specific career pathways, such as diesel technicians (Minnesota Trucking Association), call center roles (Target), and facilities/maintenance jobs with the Minnesota Public Housing Association.

Senator Champion closed by urging support for the bill and noting its return-on-investment claims. The committee laid Senate File 19-32 over for possible inclusion; no vote was taken.