Just days after appointing a new economic development commissioner, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton appointed a new associate commissioner for the state's new Office of Career and Business Opportunity. The office will be used to help reduce Minnesota's dismally-high minority-unemployment rate.
The new office will become part of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) and will be run by the new Associate Commissioner Karen Francois beginning May 4. Francois has served as the Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights director of employment equity since 2012 and its director of contract compliance since 2013.
Her appointment is the latest in a whirlwind of change. Last week Dayton tapped his deputy chief of staff, Shawntera Hardy, to become DEED's new commissioner. She replaces Commissioner Katie Clark Sieben who is stepping down this month to pursue other interests.
According to a statement issued by DEED Wednesday, the new Office of Career and Business Opportunity that was created in October 2015, will focus on four main areas:
Better career opportunities – Helping workers of color access training and resources needed to find good jobs and careers.
Better business opportunities – Helping Minnesota minority-owned businesses start and expand their businesses.
Better business practices – Helping Minnesota's business community develop and adopt hiring and contracting practices that expand opportunity for minority workers and businesses.
Better state government – Helping the Governor's Diversity and Inclusion Council identify and break down barriers to opportunities for workers and businesses of color.
