The Greater Mankato area is sitting at an unemployment rate of 2.5% as of December 2017.  Employers are looking for creative ways to grow their companies through new workforce recruitment tactics.  With unemployment, this low, innovative ideas need to be explored.

One such innovative idea popped up twice on my radar in a single day.  A colleague from a post-secondary institution emailed me a flier late morning. Then, during a lunch meeting with a business, an executive brought up the same session as a new avenue for employee recruitment. So what is this new and appealing labor pool?  Individuals with Felony Records.

Apprehensive? Ok, sure. But what is your HR doing to push the envelope towards innovation? Some companies say “we can’t.” And some may certainly not be able to. However, I encourage you to ask “why not?”. There are certainly some benefits and strategies you can hear more about at this upcoming learning session with the Minnesota Department of Corrections y Avivo.

Here is the agenda for this free event:

• The career technical training – The Second Chance Act: Technology Careers – Department of Corrections provides for men and women in correctional facilities to prepare them for careers upon release.
• Department of Corrections and AVIVO’s partnership and how continued training and upon release can be provided – plus additional supports including Career Counseling that help individuals prepare for work.
• The employer benefits of hiring individuals with felony records, including bonding through the MN Dept. of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) and federal tax breaks.
• Innovative strategies employers are utilizing to hire individuals with felony records.

WHEN: Tuesday, April 17, 2018
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM – Networking and Light Breakfast
9:00 AM – 11:30 AM – Presentation
WHERE: The Center for Changing Lives
Servicio Social Luterano de Minnesota
2400 Park Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55404
RSVP required; register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/benefits-of-hiring-individuals-with-felony-records-tickets-41761223945