February’s Immigrant and Refugee Affairs Forum brought together state leaders, health care providers and business owners for an informative discussion regarding job opportunities, training programs and small business grants available to community members. The Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs at the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) hosts these forums the first Tuesday of the month to bring together immigrant and refugee community advocates, business owners, elders and leaders.

Speakers included representatives from Care Providers, Leading Change MN, DEED’s Unemployment Insurance team, Minnesota Department of Public Safety, the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration. Some of the topics covered during this month’s meeting included:

• Reskilling opportunities in the health care industry
• Driver’s license renewal extension dates and Real ID information
• Eviction moratorium information for homeowners and renters
• Paycheck Protection Program application instructions for small businesses
• Unemployment Insurance programs for small businesses

Upcoming Immigrant and Refugee Forums will continue to highlight and create ways to engage with communities seeking more information on state agencies and/or programs. Here are links to resources discussed and shared during February’s forum:

Health Care Training and Job Resources:

• COVID temporary staffing FAQs
• For nursing scholarship info
• Or contact Jenna Kellerman, Director of Workforce Solutions: Jkellerman@LeadingAgeMN.org
• Senior care career info
• Or contact Nicole Mattson, VP of Strategic Initiatives: nmattson@careproviders.org

Department of Public Safety (DPS) Resources:

• Renew your driver’s license online
• Current job openings at DPS

Housing Resources:

• Forbearance counseling:
• Eviction moratorium violations reporting
• Overview of housing support

PPP Grant Resources:

• Online PPP application
• For more information or questions, email: minneapolis.mn@sba.gov

UI Resources:

• Step-by-step employer guide to manage your online account
• Instructions for electing coverage of owners or non-covered employees