Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council

What Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council does

Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council (PIC) is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1986 that delivers workforce development services across a 14-county service area in southwest Minnesota (Big Stone, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Jackson, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Rock, Swift, and Yellow Medicine). Operating as a designated leader within the CareerForce Minnesota system and as the operational partner of the Southwest Minnesota Workforce Development Board, PIC serves two principal customer sets: job seekers (adults, youth ages 14-24, dislocated workers, low-income individuals, refugees and immigrants, and Social Security disability beneficiaries) and local employers. Its service portfolio is structured around Career Services (career exploration, resume preparation, interview training, skills assessments), Career Trainings (short-term credential programs in CNA, CDL, welding, mechatronics, and community interpreting; On-the-Job Training; tuition assistance), and Employer Services (workforce recruitment, work-based training subsidies, internship coordination, and talent pipeline development). Specialized offerings include the Ticket to Work Program (delivered via the American Dream Employment Network), Refugee Employment Services, county-funded Summer Internships, SNAP E&T, MFIP, DWP, and multiple WIOA-funded Youth Programs.

PIC employs approximately 29 staff distributed across three CareerForce offices in Marshall (headquarters, in the Lyon County Government Center), Montevideo, and Worthington (in the Nobles County Government Center), supplemented by embedded staff in health and human services offices, Minnesota West Community and Technical College campuses, and regional high schools. It is governed by a seven-member volunteer Board of Directors chaired by Ron Antony (Yellow Medicine County Commissioner). Leadership consists of Executive Director Carrie Bendix and a management team including Program Managers, Career Specialists, and a Disability Resource Coordinator.

The revenue model is grant-based rather than commercial: PIC is funded by WIOA federal grants (Adult, Dislocated Worker, Youth), Minnesota DEED grants, county appropriations, and donations. All services are provided free of charge to eligible participants who reside within the 14-county service area. In its most recent reported year, PIC served 6,041 individuals, facilitated 685 On-the-Job Training/Work Experiences, and supported 701 individuals into employment with 271 industry-recognized credentials earned. The organization carries no proprietary technology, no AI/ML capabilities, and no commercial product lines; its "platform" is the human-mediated coordination between job seekers, employers, training providers, and government funders across rural southwest Minnesota. PIC has been recognized with the 2025 MAWB Promising Practice Award and is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2026.

Name

Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council

Legal name

Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council, Inc.

Website

https://swmnpic.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit workforce development organization serving a 14-county region in southwest Minnesota, providing free career services, job training, and employer recruitment support through three CareerForce offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce Development & Inclusive Employment (Job Training, Placement) (BPAGALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ), Community College / Training Provider Workforce Pathways Programs (EDAAAOAO), Workforce & Job-Seeker Services (Community-Based) (EDAAAFAM)

Keywords

• Workforce development services
• Career training programs
• Employment placement services
• Youth employment programs
• Employer recruitment services

Headquarters

HQ city

Marshall

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Funded Programs: Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that relies on grants and donations to provide workforce development services. Programs are funded by federal, state, and local funds and are free to eligible participants. Primary funding includes WIOA grants, DEED grants, and Minnesota state workforce development funds.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit workforce development organization that delivers free career services, occupational training, and employer recruitment support across a 14-county region of southwest Minnesota. The organization operates three CareerForce locations in Marshall, Montevideo, and Worthington, providing individualized career planning, scholarships for career-pathway training, on-the-job training subsidies, work-readiness programming for youth, and specialized services for refugees, immigrants, and individuals with disabilities.

Product overview

Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council (PIC) is a private nonprofit organization providing comprehensive workforce development services across 14 counties in southwest Minnesota. The organization operates as a CareerForce partner, offering a coordinated portfolio of employment and training services for job seekers and employers. The core offerings include Career Services (adult, youth, and specialized programs), Career Trainings (short-term credential programs like CNA, CDL, welding, and mechatronics), Employer Services (work-based training and recruitment support), and specialized initiatives such as the Ticket to Work Program for disability beneficiaries, Summer Internship Program, and Refugee Employment Services. Services are delivered through three CareerForce locations in Marshall, Montevideo, and Worthington, with programming for both individuals and business partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Youth Career Connectors: A program working with employers and educators to assist students with career exploration, career awareness, career preparation, work-based learning activities, career focused events and workplace experiences.

Products and services

• Career Services Free individualized career counseling, job search assistance, resume support, and labor market information delivered to job seekers across the southwest Minnesota service region through CareerForce locations.
• Career Pathway Training Tuition assistance and scholarship-funded training for in-demand occupations available to eligible participants seeking to upskill or transition into higher-paying careers.
• On-the-Job Training (OJT) Subsidized training arrangement in which employers hire and train participants while receiving reimbursement for a portion of wages during the training period.
• Employer Services Recruitment, screening, and candidate-matching support provided to regional employers seeking qualified workforce talent, including job posting and customized hiring assistance.
• Ticket to Work Program Employment support program for individuals receiving Social Security disability benefits, helping them return to work while protecting their benefits through coordinated service delivery.
• Summer Internship Program Paid summer work-based learning opportunity designed to give youth early career exposure and workplace experience with regional employers.
• Youth Specialized Services Targeted programming for in-school and out-of-school youth including career exploration, work readiness training, mentoring, and individualized case management.
• Adult Specialized Programs Intensive employment services for adults facing barriers to employment, including refugees, immigrants, and other priority populations requiring tailored support.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6,041 people served in the past year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• American Dream Employment Network (ADEN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPIC is an approved Employment Network through the American Dream Employment Network for the Ticket to Work program. ADEN provides support for individuals with disabilities to explore work while maintaining benefits, with certified work incentive practitioners providing benefits planning services.
• Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPIC partners extensively with DEED staff to provide comprehensive business services and carry out CareerForce's mission. DEED provides Workforce Strategy Consultants for talent recruitment and retention consultation and awards grants including WIOA Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth Services grants.
• CareerForce MinnesotacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPIC is a leader in CareerForce, Minnesota's unified workforce system. CareerForce locations in Marshall, Montevideo, and Worthington provide comprehensive career resources, job listings, and employment services.
• Minnesota West Community and Technical CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPIC partners with Minnesota West for pathway courses and programs. Minnesota West provides campus locations for training programs including Mechatronics and other career pathway offerings. Video program overviews are available for agriculture, carpentry, cosmetology, healthcare, manufacturing, and other fields.
• American Job Center NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPIC is part of the American Job Center network, providing standardized workforce development services and access to federal workforce resources.
• Lower Sioux Indian CouncilminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLower Sioux Indian Council partnered with PIC to create employment opportunities for participants, specifically supporting hiring at Jackpot Junction casino.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SWMINNPic
• Instagraminstagram.com/swmncareers
• Xx.com/swmnpic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/southwest-minnesota-private-industry-council

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council