What Workforce Development does

Workforce Development, Inc. (WDI) is a private nonprofit agency founded in 1984 and headquartered in Wabasha, Minnesota, operating as the designated Workforce Development Board of Southeast Minnesota and a partner of the American Job Center Network. The organization delivers free career planning, training, and employment services across a 10-county Southeast Minnesota region through 10 physical offices, virtual Career Café programming, and co-location within CareerForce sites in Austin, Faribault, and Rochester. Service recipients include job seekers, youth and young adults, veterans, people with disabilities, and underrepresented populations in construction trades; employer customers receive recruitment, retention, staff training, and labor market information support.

WDI's core product portfolio spans individual services (Job Search, Career Planning, Adult, Youth, and Veteran Services, Workforce Preparation, Online Learning, Apprenticeship Support) and employer services (Staff Training, Labor Market Information, Recruitment and Retention Assistance), anchored by the Bridges to Careers career pathway model, which has been recognized as a promising practice by the US Department of Education and honored by the Humphrey Institute and Harvard University. Sub-brands include Bridges to Healthcare (with a $1.5M state appropriation for FY2024-2025), Trades Readiness Training, Building Strong Communities, Best Places to Work, and Career Pathways Infographics (available in English, Spanish, and Somali). The organization does not operate a proprietary technology platform; service delivery is community-based and partnership-driven.

The business model is a grant-funded nonprofit: all services to individuals and employers are free, with revenue derived from Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) grants (Southeast Asian Economic Disparities Relief, Rural Career Counseling, Pathways to Prosperity Onramp and Bridge, Growing Careers Agriculture Grant), direct state appropriations, philanthropic donations, and competitive grants including $1 million from Bloomberg Philanthropies via the 2021-2022 Global Mayors Challenge. Ancillary revenue comes from Workforce Development Forum registrations ($45/person, $325/table). Leadership is anchored by Executive Director Jinny Rietmann with an 18-person senior team spanning operations, fiscal, training, adult, youth, grants, and program coordination functions.

Name

Workforce Development

Legal name

Workforce Development, Inc.

Website

https://workforcedevelopmentinc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Administration of Human Resource Programs (923)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Public Workforce Development Programs (WIOA/One-Stop Career Centers) (EDAAAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Workforce & Career Transition Noncredit Programs (EDAAAEAC), Dislocated Worker & Rapid Response / Reemployment Programs (EDAAAOAF), Workforce & Job-Seeker Services (Community-Based) (EDAAAFAM)

Keywords

• Workforce development services
• Career planning assistance
• Job search support
• Apprenticeship training programs
• Employer recruitment services

Headquarters

HQ city

Rochester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Grants: WDI receives funding through Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) grants including Southeast Asian Economic Disparities Relief, Rural Career Counseling, Pathways to Prosperity Onramp, Pathways to Prosperity Bridge, and Growing Careers Agriculture Grant. A $1.5 million direct appropriation was awarded for the Bridges to Healthcare program for state fiscal years 2024-2025.
2. Donations and Philanthropic Support: WDI accepts donations to support workforce development programs. The organization references donors who make their work possible, and maintains a donate page on their website.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Workforce Development, Inc. (WDI) is a private nonprofit agency that delivers free career planning, job search assistance, workforce preparation, apprenticeship support, and employer recruitment/retention services across Southeast Minnesota. The organization serves as the designated Workforce Development Board for the region, operating through 10 physical offices and virtual programming to connect job seekers with employment opportunities and employers with qualified talent.

Product overview

Workforce Development, Inc. (WDI) is a private nonprofit agency offering a comprehensive suite of workforce development services across Southeast Minnesota. The organization operates as a unified service model centered on career pathway programming, providing free services to both job seekers and employers. For individuals, core offerings include job search assistance, career planning, workforce preparation, online learning, youth/adult/veteran services, and apprenticeship support. For employers, WDI provides staff training, labor market information, and recruitment assistance. Key programs include the Bridges to Careers pathway model, Best Places to Work Survey, annual Workforce Development Forum, Career Pathways Infographics (available in English, Spanish, and Somali), Trades Readiness Training, and Building Strong Communities partnership. All WDI services are free to participants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Best Places to Work: An annual workplace recognition program for Southeast Minnesota employers that includes a 40-question survey and awards in Small, Mid-Size, and Large categories.
• Bridges to Careers
• CareerForce

Products and services

• Career Pathways Industry-driven training and employment pathway program connecting job seekers with opportunities in healthcare, manufacturing, trades, and IT across Southeast Minnesota.
• Bridges to Careers Career pathway program with employer engagement recognized as a promising practice by the U.S. Department of Education, honored by the Humphrey Institute and Harvard University; includes Bridges to Healthcare track.
• Job Search Assistance End-to-end job search support including resume assistance, interview preparation, and job opening exploration for individuals seeking employment.
• Youth & Young Adults Services Career exploration, experience-building, and future planning services for young people entering the workforce.
• Adult Services Job training, career coaching, and employment support services for adult job seekers.
• Veteran Services Personalized assistance helping veterans translate military skills into civilian employment.
• Career Planning One-on-one career and training plan development with WDI staff.
• Workforce Preparation Soft skills development, digital literacy, and job-readiness tools for career success.
• Online Learning Free and low-cost online training resources for skill development.
• Apprenticeship Support Registered apprenticeship program support spanning healthcare, education, manufacturing, IT, and hospitality sectors, helping employers build skilled workforce and job seekers gain hands-on training.
• Staff Training for Employers Customized employee training support to upskill the current workforce for Southeast Minnesota employers.
• Labor Market Information Local workforce data to guide employer hiring decisions, wages, and business strategy.
• Recruitment & Retention Assistance Personalized recruitment services to help Southeast Minnesota employers attract qualified candidates.
• Trades Readiness Training Program Apprentice-level training for construction industry careers, offered Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Part of the Equity in the Built Environment (EBE) program and free to eligible applicants.
• Building Strong Communities Multi-trade apprenticeship readiness program recruiting women, people of color, and veterans for building and construction trades careers, brought to southeastern Minnesota through partnership with Minnesota Building and Construction Trades.

Quantifiable outcome

• Bridges model recognized as promising practice by US Department of Education
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government funder through multiple grants including Southeast Asian Economic Disparities Relief, Rural Career Counseling, Pathways to Prosperity Onramp, Pathways to Prosperity Bridge, and Growing Careers Agriculture Grant. Grant operations overseen by Mike Postma, Tara Behr, Jennifer Iverson, and Kayla Young.
• Mayo CliniccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner in Bridges to Healthcare program, collaborating on career pathway programming and employment transitions for Southeast Minnesota healthcare providers.
• Northfield HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner in Bridges to Healthcare program for career pathway development and employment support.
• South Central CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner providing training pathways and career development programs through WDI workforce initiatives.
• Minnesota State College SoutheastcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner providing CNC training, welding programs, and other career pathways for WDI clients.
• Building Strong Communities (Minnesota Building and Construction Trades)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-trade apprenticeship readiness program that recruits women, people of color, and veterans for construction careers. WDI partners to bring BSC programming to southeastern Minnesota, expanding the first statewide apprenticeship readiness program.
• Adult Basic Education CenterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with ABE centers in Rochester, Austin, Albert Lea, Owatonna, Faribault, and Red Wing for career pathway programming.
• CareerForcecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmerican Job Center Network partner. WDI offices in Austin, Faribault, and Rochester are located within CareerForce sites.
• JobsHQminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-host of regional job fairs including Rochester, Albert Lea, and Owatonna career fairs.
• Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Rochester job fair hosting and workforce development initiatives.
• City of RochestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Equity in the Built Environment program and Trades Readiness Training. Funded construction projects with workforce participation goals.
• Destination Medical Center (DMC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in funding construction projects with workforce participation goals for people of color (15%) and women (7%).
• MaxAbility TaskforceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubcommittee addressing disability employment challenges and workplace accessibility across the region.
• United Way (Multiple Counties)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners including United Way of Steele County, United Way of Mower County, and United Way of Freeborn County supporting workforce development initiatives.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Year Up: National nonprofit providing workforce training, career pathway programming, and employer placement for young adults from underserved communities. Overlaps with WDI's Youth & Young Adults services and Bridges employer-engagement framework.
• National Able Network: National nonprofit delivering employment placement and vocational rehabilitation services across multiple states, with focus on individuals with disabilities, veterans, and opportunity youth — directly comparable to WDI's MaxAbility Taskforce and Veterans Service segments.
• SER National: National nonprofit providing workforce development, employment placement, and education services with concentration on Hispanic and underserved populations. Comparable mission-aligned model with federal, state, and philanthropic funding mix.
• Skills for Chicagoland's Future: Regional nonprofit workforce intermediary connecting job seekers with employer-driven training and placement, with strong emphasis on public-private partnerships. A near-template analog to WDI's regional one-stop model in a different geography.
• America Works: Private nonprofit operating multi-state workforce development programs placing job seekers — including those with employment barriers — into jobs, funded largely by government contracts. Closely mirrors WDI's employment-placement-first model for barriered populations.
• Per Scholas: Nonprofit providing tuition-free tech training and job placement services across multiple U.S. cities. Comparable to WDI's IT-sector career pathway and apprenticeship offerings, with a similarly grant- and employer-funded model.

Regional players

• CareerSource Florida: Statewide workforce development board network administering WIOA-aligned career services in Florida. Equivalent institutional role (regional/state Workforce Development Board) but operating in a different and much larger geography.

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries International: National nonprofit delivering employment placement, job training, and career services through a federated network of 150+ local Goodwill organizations. Operates a much broader footprint and product set, but overlapping career services for disadvantaged populations map directly to WDI's job seeker segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@workforcedevelopmentinc.5097
• Facebookfacebook.com/SEMNWorkforce
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/workforce-development-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/semnworkforce
• Xx.com/workforce_dev

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Workforce Development