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Duluth at Work is an innovative workforce development / poverty reduction model co-facilitated by Duluth LISC and the City of Duluth-Community Development,  launched in April 2008, and founded upon the Portland Economic Opportunity Initiative (commonly referred to as the “Portland Model”), Duluth at Work strives to increase the incomes and assets of low income individuals, entrepreneurs and small business owners by 25% over the course of 3 years, using the following set of researched, proven best practice principles:

• Serve a relatively small number of participants, so that the program can build on their individual strengths and tailored to their individual and common needs.
• Projects should serve groups with a common business/career track or similarity in ethnicity's, housing or personal challenges or situation.  Structured opportunities for peer support should be incorporated into all projects.
• Offer comprehensive support services to remove personal barriers to success such as transportation, limited English, child care, housing status, lack of financial education and problem work behaviors.  This requires some supported referrals and purchase of goods and services.
• Emphasize development of strong long-term mentoring/coaching relationships between project staff and participants.
• Involve employers early in program and curriculum design and by obtaining their commitment to employ graduates of workforce programs.  Use active, workplace based training approaches when possible.
• Use individualized, comprehensive business planning and assessment with hands-on/on-site business coaching in addition to structured business education and training activities.

Duluth at Work operates as a system of community-based programs, providing funding, technical support, capacity building and collaborative problem solving in a collective commitment to innovation.

Emily Larson (left), coordinator of Duluth at Work, works with nine organizations which assist individuals, entrepreneurs and small businesses with long-term, intense case management, skill development training, and mentoring. Collectively, Duluth At Work is on track to serve 240 participants over a course of three years, helping increase incomes and assets by 25%.

Also pictured is Jennifer Young, lead business developer, Growing Neighborhood Businesses, a Northeast Entrepreneur Fund program funded through Duluth at Work.

Duluth At Work Project Portfolio:

Community Action Duluth’s Green Jobs: Through a direct partnership with a large local construction company, 5 low income adults will enter a long-term career faster, learning "green" construction techniques by accessing the building trades through an established apprenticeship program to achieve income growth.  Community Action will ensure access to the array of financial literary and social stabilization services offered on-site.  www.communityactionduluth.org

C.Re.A.T.E.:  (Community Resources for Artists-To-Entrepreneurs) Provides coaching, one on one technical assistance, business training and organized peer support provided to low to moderate income artists living within targeted low-income neighborhoods, with the goal to increase artists’ incomes by 25% in three years.  CREATE is operated by the Northeast Entrepreneur Fund. www.entrepreneurfund.org

Duluth HRA: Though initial funding from the HOPE VI endowment HRA provides long-term case management and employment support services to public housing and Section 8 residents.  www.duluthhousing.com

Growing Neighborhood Businesses (GNB): Individualized technical assistance and peer group meetings for small-business owners in Duluth Target Areas (East Hillside, Central Hillside, Lincoln Park, Morgan Park, and West Duluth), with the goal of increasing small business assets by 25% over the course of three years. GNB is operated by the Northeast Entrepreneur Fund. www.entrepreneurfund.org

MFIP Disparities/ Bridge to Employment: Duluth at Work partners with Community Action Duluth (CAD) and the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe (MCT) to provide culturally-specific employment support to African American and American Indian MFIP / cash assistance recipients. Funded by the Department of Human Services Community Action Duluth and MCT seek to increase MFIP work participation rates for the targeted population.  www.mnchippewatribe.org/iew.htm and www.communityactionduluth.org

Minnesota Teen Challenge (MTC): Graduates of their one year residential chemical dependency treatment program receive long-term employment support through the Aftercare Jobs Program to assist, encourage, develop and sustain economic independence and self-sufficiency. www.mntc.org/northland

Neighborhood Youth Services (NYS): Youth ages 15-21 who reside within targeted neighborhoods receive job readiness training, employment support and career mentoring with the goal of self-sufficiency, continuing education and income growth.  www.woodlandhills.org/programs/neighborhoodyouth.aspx

SOAR Career Solutions: SOAR provides adults with work readiness and soft skills training, career exploration, case management, job placement, and job retention assistance with the goal of increasing incomes by 25% over 3 years.  SOAR serves as an entry point for several Lake Superior College specialized trainings and also contracts with other Duluth at Work partners to provide soft skills training. www.soarcareers.org

Duluth at Work is supported by a group of Advisory Committee members, many of whom were part of the Northwest Area Foundation-sponsored learning tour of the Portland Economic Opportunity Initiative during summer of 2007. Meeting eight times per year, the Advisory Committee provides valuable insight into funding opportunities, tangible connections to employers and business owners, and ideas for tapping into the broader economic development of Duluth.

Duluth at Work Advisory Committee Members:

1.    Pam Kramer, Executive Director Duluth LISC
2.    Keith Hamre, City of Duluth Community Development
3.    Don Hoag, Director of Workforce Services, City of Duluth
4.    Steve Wagner, Lake Superior College
5.    Paula Reed, United Way of Greater Duluth
6.    Erik Torch, Northland Foundation
7.    Rob West, Area Partnership for Economic Expansion, APEX
8.    Rick Ball, Duluth HRA
9.    Amber Paniaqua, SMDC Health System
10.  Steve Risacher, representing the Building and Construction Trades Council
11.  Lisa Augustine, Holiday Inn/Labovitz Enterprises
12.  Tony Cuneo, A.H.Zeppa Family Foundation

Duluth at Work began in April 2008 with support of the Northwest Area Foundation, the Knight Foundation, the Minneapolis Foundation and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Economic Development dollars.

A full list of funders is as follows:

1.    Duluth LISC
2.    City of Duluth Community Development Block Grant
3.    Northwest Area Foundation
4.    Minneapolis Foundation
5.    John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
6.    Northland Foundation
7.    Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation
8.    Ordean Foundation
9.    Maurice’s
10.  Department of Human Services

  Since April 2008, Duluth at Work has steadily grown and now includes a portfolio of nine projects serving over 125    individuals, small business owners and entrepreneurs. Click here to see our past quarterly reports.

   • Why choose Duluth at Work to meet your employment needs?
supported employees = supported employers

   • Duluth at Work provides work ready, prescreened, qualified employees who are ready to help your business be successful.      Employees that are eager to work, ready to work, and supported to work; Supported by staff who can help address any challenges that arise—so you can stay focused on your bottom line.

   • Duluth at Work allows you to serve your business and the community at the same time. Add in the potential for tax credits or wage subsidies and there’s no reason to say no! Call Coordinator Emily Larson at 218.730.5480 for information on how to tap into our base of employees to meet your needs. We have special need for entry level opportunities.

Growing Businesses AND Entrepreneurs 

Duluth at Work is committed to supporting small business growth and development, and encouraging smart entrepreneurship for low income artists. Find out more about these two programs, Growing Neighborhood Businesses and CREATE, through the Northeast Entrepreneur Fund website:
www.entrepreneurfund.org