Narrative: c. 6. B.

Minnesota’s overall poverty rate was 11.5% in 2014, statistically unchanged from the prior year. About 611,000 Minnesotans, including 189,000 children under 18 and 56,000 older adults (65+), lived in households with annual income below the federal poverty threshold (about $24,200 for a family of four) in 2014. Despite growth in their rates of employment, data for some populations of color continued to show widespread economic insecurity. More than 4 in 10 Black and American Indian children in Minnesota lived in poverty in 2014, as well as 3 in 10 Hispanic children.

The table below also fits into the eligible population who are in these categories that could reasonably be said to correlate with potential for having the greatest economic need. Data is from 2014 or 2015, depending upon the characteristic. This data is only available for the counties with an MSA. The SCSEP distribution of this factor will be provided to the Regional FPO within 30 days. DEED will work toward expanding our capacity to assess minority characteristics in the future, working with service providers and the local workforce development boards to survey and gather information in communities that have higher levels of minority older workers. This information will support the on-going development of career pathways and sector partnerships, thus providing inclusion of older workers.

County	Number Below Poverty	Share Below Poverty
000 — Rural Counties	26,163	10.2%
003 — Anoka	4,415	5.7%
037 — Dakota	5,728	6.1%
053 — Hennepin	29,355	10.3%
109 — Olmsted	2,527	6.8%
123 — Ramsey	14,538	11.3%
137 — St. Louis	2,825	11.6%
145 — Stearns	2,660	11.5%
163 — Washington	3,319	5.6%
171 - Wright	1,409	8.5%
TOTAL	92,939	9.3%