What Emerge Community Development does

Emerge Community Development (EMERGE) is a Minneapolis-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides workforce development and community economic development services primarily to residents of North Minneapolis and Cedar-Riverside neighborhoods. Originally established in 1995 as New Unity Inc., a division of Pillsbury United Communities, the organization spun off as an independent nonprofit in 2007 under President & CEO Mike Wynne. EMERGE serves adults facing employment barriers — including individuals with criminal backgrounds, youth aged 16-24, MFIP recipients, and community members with limited work experience — through a continuum of programs: one-on-one employment coaching, tuition-free career training in Construction, Manufacturing & Metal Fabrication, CDL, and Healthcare Pathways (CNA, Phlebotomy), youth internships, reentry services (RESTORE, ProPEL, RTR), MFIP case management, financial wellness coaching, and work readiness workshops. The organization operates two physical service hubs (the EMERGE Career & Technology Center at 1834 Emerson Avenue North and the Cedar-Riverside Opportunity Center) staffed by 80 FTE plus 50 paid training employees, reaching 6,641 community event attendees and placing 497 participants in meaningful employment in 2024 at an average starting wage of $20.44.

EMERGE runs a portfolio of three wholly-owned social enterprises — Second Chance Recycling (mattress recycling, 500,000+ mattresses recycled, 20 million pounds diverted from landfills, 100+ people employed annually), Furnish Office & Home (nonprofit resale furniture store), and Second Chance Removal Services (office furniture removal) — that generate revenue and provide transitional employment for program participants. Revenue is sourced from State of Minnesota contracts (DEED, DHS, MFIP), federal grants (notably a $2.975M U.S. Department of Labor ProPEL grant awarded in 2025), corporate philanthropy (Bank of America $310K, Bush Foundation, Greater Twin Cities United Way, LISC, REDF), individual donations, and social enterprise operations. The organization maintains a HIPAA-compliant designation for healthcare pathway programming and partners with Minneapolis College, Anoka Technical College, Hennepin Technical College, Interstate Trucking School, and Phlebotomy USA for credential delivery.

The organization is governed by a diverse Board of Directors and led by a management team including President & CEO Mike Wynne, EVP of Enterprise & Operations Kevin Engdahl, EVP of Mission & Program Terra Majors, VP of Advancement Jill Pearson-Wood, and VP of Finance Yulanda Williams, with senior directors overseeing Workforce, MFIP, Reentry, Career Training, Youth, HR, and the Second Chance Recycling operations. Annual budget is approximately $12 million. EMERGE holds a Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency and was named a 2025 Star Tribune Top Workplace in the 'Nation Standard Setters' category.

Name

Emerge Community Development

Legal name

Emerge Community Development

Website

https://emerge-mn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Emerge Community Development is a Minneapolis 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing workforce development services — career training, employment coaching, youth and reentry programs — to North Minneapolis and Cedar-Riverside residents facing employment barriers, supported by three social enterprises generating revenue and transitional jobs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Workforce & Job-Seeker Services (Community-Based) (EDAAAFAM), Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD), Workforce Development & Continuing Education Divisions (Noncredit) (EDAHADAG), Workforce Readiness, Career Pathways & Youth Employment Nonprofits (BPAGADAF)

Keywords

• Workforce development services
• Career training programs
• Reentry employment support
• Social enterprise recycling
• Youth career services

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Contracts: Primary funding from State of Minnesota through DEED and DHS programs including MFIP, workforce development grants, and specialized initiatives like ProPEL and Youthbuild
2. Social Enterprise Revenue: Revenue generated from Second Chance Recycling (mattress recycling) and Furnish Office & Home (used furniture retail), providing jobs for participants while generating organizational revenue
3. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual and corporate donations from supporters; Bank of America invested $310,000 for workforce programs
4. ProPEL Federal Grant: $2,975,000 grant from U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration for reentry support services

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Emerge Community Development is a workforce and community development nonprofit that helps individuals facing employment barriers in North Minneapolis and Cedar-Riverside build careers through personalized coaching, tuition-free career training (Construction, CDL, Healthcare, Manufacturing), youth services, reentry programs, and MFIP support. The organization also operates social enterprise businesses—Second Chance Recycling, Furnish Office & Home, and Second Chance Removal Services—that generate revenue while providing transitional employment for participants.

Product overview

EMERGE Community Development is a workforce and community development nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive continuum of services designed to help individuals facing employment barriers achieve economic stability. The organization operates two distinct but complementary service lines: (1) Workforce Development Programs including Employment Services, Career Training (Construction, Manufacturing/Metal Fabrication, CDL, Healthcare Pathways), Youth Services, Reentry Services, MFIP, Financial Wellness, and Work Readiness Workshops; and (2) Social Enterprise Businesses including Second Chance Recycling, Furnish Office & Home, and Second Chance Removal Services. The social enterprises serve dual purposes—generating revenue while providing transitional employment and job training for participants overcoming barriers to employment. The organization primarily serves North Minneapolis and Cedar-Riverside communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Second Chance Recycling: Social enterprise business that annually employs more than 100 people overcoming barriers to employment, turning mattress waste into new products, and supporting a cleaner planet. Has recycled over 500,000 mattresses and kept 20 million pounds of recyclable material out of landfills.
• Furnish Office & Home
• Second Chance Removal Services
• RESTORE
• ProPEL
• RTR (ReEntry Trauma Recovery Groups)
• North 4

Products and services

• Employment Services Adult employment services providing job placement, employer connections, interview preparation, and career progression support for individuals facing employment barriers in North Minneapolis and Cedar-Riverside communities.
• Career Training Programs Tuition-free career training programs offering industry-specific courses including Construction (OSHA 10-hour certification), Manufacturing & Metal Fabrication, Commercial Driver's License (CDL), and Healthcare Pathways (Nursing Assistant, Phlebotomy, Trained Medication Administration, Basic Life Support).
• Youth Services Workforce services for youth aged 16-24 including career guidance, financial empowerment workshops, community engagement, and the North 4 program providing leadership and workplace skills for gang or clique involved young men in North Minneapolis.
• Reentry Services Programs supporting individuals with criminal backgrounds including RESTORE for employment barriers, ProPEL for pre-release preparation from MN State DOC facilities, and RTR (ReEntry Trauma Recovery Groups) for trauma support and holistic reintegration.
• MN Family Investment Program (MFIP) Support services for families dependent on public assistance in Hennepin County, helping parents achieve financial stability and independence through employment assistance, career coaching, childcare assistance, transportation support, and education assistance.

Quantifiable outcome

• 497 participants placed in meaningful employment in 2024
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Genesys WorkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development partner working alongside EMERGE to connect residents with career pathways through joint workforce investment programs.
• American Indian OICcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Project ProPEL providing career coaching and support services for incarcerated individuals transitioning back to communities. Contact: Angela Fabel at takoda.org.
• REDFminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial enterprise accelerator and funder supporting EMERGE's social enterprise model.
• North Memorial HealthminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHealthcare employer partner providing job placement opportunities for EMERGE participants.
• Hennepin CountycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGovernment partner providing MFIP referrals, workforce funding, and collaborative service delivery through county agencies.
• City of MinneapoliscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMunicipal partner supporting Cedar-Riverside Opportunity Center and workforce development initiatives.
• Minneapolis CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation partner at Cedar-Riverside Opportunity Center providing educational pathways and college connections.
• Anoka Technical CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation partner providing technical training and certification pathways for participants.
• Hennepin Technical CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation partner providing technical skills training and career pathways.
• Interstate Trucking SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDL training partner providing commercial driver's license education for EMERGE participants.
• Phlebotomy USAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare certification partner providing phlebotomy training pathways.
• Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity partner providing employment opportunities and serving North Minneapolis families.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• HIRED (Hennepin County): Twin Cities workforce development organization providing job search, career training, and employer connections. Operates the same employment-services category as EMERGE with overlapping employer partners and funder base in Hennepin County.
• YWCA Minneapolis: Minneapolis-based YWCA operating workforce development, early childhood education, and youth programming in North Minneapolis. Competes for similar state, county, and foundation grants as EMERGE.
• Project for Pride in Living (PPL): Minneapolis nonprofit combining workforce development, career training, and housing services for low-income residents. Serves many of the same North Minneapolis populations as EMERGE and competes for similar government and philanthropic funding.
• Pillsbury United Communities: Minneapolis-based community development nonprofit and EMERGE's heritage organization. Operates overlapping workforce, youth, and social enterprise programs in the same Twin Cities neighborhoods, making it the closest direct peer.
• American Indian OIC (Takoda): Minneapolis nonprofit providing workforce training, career education, and reentry services. Direct ProPEL partner of EMERGE and serves many of the same high-barrier populations in the Twin Cities.
• RESOURCE (Resource Inc.): Minnesota employment and training nonprofit operating welfare-to-work, youth, and vocational rehabilitation programs. Directly comparable to EMERGE's MFIP and employment services lines, and employs several former EMERGE staff in similar director-level roles.

Broad incumbents

• CareerForce Minnesota: State of Minnesota's public workforce development system providing job search, training referrals, and employer matching statewide. Functions as both a partner and indirect competitor to EMERGE for state workforce funding.
• Goodwill Industries of the Upper Midwest: Large regional Goodwill operating workforce training, transitional employment, and retail social enterprises (similar to Second Chance Recycling and Furnish Office & Home). Competes for similar contracts and employer partnerships in the same metro.

Emerging players

• Genesys Works: National nonprofit providing youth workforce pathways and corporate internships, explicitly named as a Bank of America co-investee alongside EMERGE. Overlaps on the youth career-readiness mission and shares the same Twin Cities funding base.
• Summit Academy OIC: Twin Cities nonprofit providing vocational training, GED, and reentry employment services to high-barrier populations. Operates a closely analogous model in manufacturing and construction training pathways.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/emergemn
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCXH92GxSVyXxWv4mriv9Viw
• Facebookfacebook.com/emergecommunitydevelopment
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/emerge-community-development
• Instagraminstagram.com/emerge_mn

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries7 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 Emerge Community Development