Minnesota Grants

This funding opportunity is designed to support educational institutions and clinical training sites in Minnesota that aim to improve dental care access for underserved populations through innovative training programs.

This grant provides funding to Minnesota-based organizations to develop and expand primary care residency programs, particularly in underserved and rural areas, to help address the shortage of primary care physicians in the state.

This funding opportunity supports collaboration between Minnesota businesses and educational institutions to create customized training programs that enhance workforce skills, particularly for economically disadvantaged individuals.

This grant provides funding to organizations that support adults facing employment barriers in Minnesota, helping them access training and services for high-wage jobs while promoting racial equity and economic inclusion.

The Transportation Economic Development Infrastructure (TEDI) Program is authorized under Minnesota Statute 116J.436 and is administered jointly by the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). The program is designed to foster interagency coordination and provide financing for infrastructure projects that promote economic development, create jobs, and improve transportation systems throughout Minnesota. It specifically supports projects that accommodate private investment and job creation by funding infrastructure improvements beyond trunk highway projects, although coordination with trunk highway work undertaken by MnDOT is encouraged. Eligible projects include predesign, design, land acquisition, construction, reconstruction, and infrastructure improvements that enhance economic development and employment opportunities. Funding cannot be used for trunk highway improvements, but it can support nontrunk highway infrastructure improvements connected to trunk highway projects. Applicants must be local units of government, such as cities, counties, or special districts. DEED awards funds as grants, and although there is no formal match requirement, applications with substantial private investment and leverage of nonstate funds are more competitive. A resolution from the local government certifying that pledged match funds are secured is required as part of the application. Applications will be evaluated competitively based on job creation (25 points), increase in local tax base (20 points), level of private investment (15 points), leverage of nonstate funds (15 points), and improvements to the transportation system serving the project area (25 points). Geographic balance between the metropolitan area and greater Minnesota is also considered, and applications must score at least 50 points to be eligible. The strongest proposals demonstrate a well-documented need, secured leverage resources, project readiness, and committed businesses with job creation plans. The application process opens June 30, 2025, with an informational session on July 10, 2025. Applications are due to DEED by 4:00 PM on September 29, 2025. Project selections will be made in December 2025. Projects should be completed within three years of the funding agreement execution, with DEED reserving the right to cancel awards for delays exceeding six months past the scheduled start date. Payment requests must be supported with invoices, canceled checks, and documentation of both TEDI and matching fund expenditures. Applicants must submit a completed TEDI Application in PDF format under 5 MB via email to Jeremy LaCroix at jeremy.lacroix@state.mn.us. The application includes detailed questions on project summary, job creation, transportation improvements, local tax base increases, private investment, and leveraged nonstate funds, as well as budget tables for nontrunk and trunk highway components. Required attachments include a local government resolution, maps, permit approvals, engineering status, construction timelines, property acquisition documentation, business commitment letters, and evidence of community support. Key contact for the program is Jeremy LaCroix at 651-259-7457 or via email at jeremy.lacroix@state.mn.us. Additional resources, such as the Greater Minnesota Business Development Public Infrastructure (BDPI) program and MnDOT’s Transportation Economic Development (TED) program, may be available through separate applications. All application materials are subject to public data rules under Minn. Stat. § 13.599 once the evaluation process is complete.

This program provides financial and technical assistance to Minnesota-based small businesses looking to start or expand their export activities, helping them overcome barriers to entering international markets.

This funding opportunity supports organizations that provide construction training and employment services to economically disadvantaged youth aged 16-24, helping them gain skills, earn their high school diploma or GED, and secure career-path employment in the building trades.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations that help Minnesota residents facing employment barriers gain essential skills and training for high-demand jobs, with a focus on reducing racial disparities and improving economic access.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations in Minnesota that aim to reduce economic disparities and enhance workforce development for Southeast Asian residents facing employment barriers.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), through its Office of Adult Career Pathways (ACP), is offering the Women’s Economic Security Act (WESA) Competitive Grant for State Fiscal Years 2026 and 2027. The ACP supports Minnesotans facing barriers to employment by funding workforce training, wrap-around services, and educational programs that prepare individuals for family-sustaining wages, with a focus on eliminating racial disparities and increasing access to high-growth, high-wage jobs. This competitive grant program aims to encourage and assist women in entering high-wage, high-demand, and nontraditional occupations, particularly in skilled trades and STEM fields, thereby increasing representation and economic security for women. Funding totals $1.5 million statewide, with applicants eligible for up to $125,000 per year, or $250,000 total over the two-year period. Awards will be evenly split between SFY 2026 and SFY 2027. Funding must support activities aligned with WESA objectives, including recruitment, preparation, placement, and retention of women in nontraditional occupations; training and education; innovative outreach to girls and women; employer incentives; technical assistance; and supportive services such as childcare and transportation. Target populations include women of color, girls of color aged 16–17, women over 50, and low-income women, with priority given to programs serving women of color. Programs must focus on occupations meeting Minnesota’s high-wage, high-demand criteria or U.S. Department of Labor definitions for nontraditional careers for women. Eligible applicants include community-based organizations, employers, labor unions, business or trade associations with 501(c)(6) status, secondary and postsecondary institutions, workforce and economic development agencies, registered apprenticeship programs, and state, local, or Tribal governments. All applicants must have a Minnesota physical location open to the public, be in good standing with the Minnesota Secretary of State, and—if nonprofit—hold a recognized tax-exempt designation and be in good standing with the IRS. Each organization may submit one proposal as primary grantee but may partner on other proposals. Applicants must be able to comply with DEED administrative requirements, use Workforce One for participant tracking, and follow applicable state and federal regulations. Applications must be submitted as a single PDF via email to ACPgrants.deed@state.mn.us with the subject “WESA Application – [organization name].” The deadline is 5:00 p.m. Central Time on Thursday, August 28, 2025. Required forms include the cover sheet, narrative responses, work plan, budget, partnership chart and letters of support, conflict of interest disclosures, unemployment insurance account consent, nonprofit financial documents if applicable, and other attestations. Questions must be submitted in writing to Sarah Lee at sarah.lee@state.mn.us by August 21, 2025. DEED hosted an informational webinar on July 16, 2025, and recorded technical assistance sessions are available online. Proposals will be scored on a 100-point scale across seven categories: organizational capacity and experience, program description, implementation work plan, outreach and engagement, partnerships, performance and evaluation, and budget capacity. Reviewers will include DEED staff and community experts in workforce development, education, and relevant industries. Awards are expected to be announced October 8, 2025, with the grant term running from the date of execution through June 30, 2027. Grantees are expected to participate in onboarding, quarterly engagement sessions, evaluation activities, and monitoring visits, and to submit regular performance and financial reports. DEED may offer partial awards to ensure equitable geographic and community distribution of funding. Performance metrics will include job placements, wages, retention, and credential attainment. The grant also carries administrative requirements such as competitive procurement for large purchases, compliance with affirmative action and non-discrimination laws, and retention of records for at least six years. Contact Sarah Lee, ACP Program Coordinator, at sarah.lee@state.mn.us or 651-259-7307 for further information.

This grant provides funding to organizations in Minnesota to support adult residents facing employment barriers by offering training and resources for high-demand jobs, with a focus on promoting racial and economic equity.

This grant provides financial support to local nonprofit organizations within 30 miles of SpartanNash facilities that address food insecurity, support veterans and first responders, and uplift marginalized communities.

This funding program provides financial support to states, territories, and Tribes for monitoring beach water quality and ensuring public safety from harmful pathogens during recreational activities.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit Tribal coalitions dedicated to addressing domestic violence and sexual assault in Tribal and Native Hawaiian communities.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin to support initiatives that enhance agriculture education, hunger relief, rural disaster relief, and rural health services in their communities.

This funding opportunity is designed for research partners in the Great Lakes-Northern Forest region to study and develop strategies for controlling the invasive Grass Carp population in Lake Erie and its tributaries.

This funding initiative provides financial support to small arts organizations in the seven-county metropolitan area of Minnesota, particularly those led by individuals from historically marginalized communities, to help sustain or expand their arts programming and operations.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to tribal governments, nonprofits, and educational institutions for solar energy projects that enhance energy independence and benefit low-to-moderate income communities.

This initiative provides funding and support to empower small rural communities in Central Minnesota to enhance local leadership, community engagement, and implement projects that promote long-term vibrancy and belonging.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations in rural Minnesota that provide community-led health solutions focused on equity, particularly for underserved populations, with priority given to free and community clinics.