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For about a 1% investment of the Federal budget, the State Department yields a large return for the American people by advancing U.S. national security, promoting our economic interests, providing services, and reaffirming our country’s exceptional role in the world. Read on to learn how the work of the Department benefits this state’s residents.

Minnesota

• Jobs and Diplomacy

  • In partnership with agencies across the federal government, the Department of State advances U.S. trade policy objectives by opening new export and job opportunities for American businesses and workers through trade initiatives. In Minnesota, approximately 129,000 U.S. jobs were supported by goods exports (2014) and foreign direct investment supported about 104,000 U.S. jobs (2013). This resulted in $20 billion in goods exports from Minnesota (2015). (EB) More»

  • Minnesota-based Cargill was awarded the 2015 Secretary of State’s Award for Corporate Excellence in Human Rights and Labor Rights for its work in Vietnam. Cargill Vietnam Ltd. demonstrated a long-term commitment to investing in its farmer-partners in cocoa and other sectors by supporting community health, training over 12,000 farmers in sustainable production techniques, and utilizing technology to share pricing information with farmers, the government, and other stakeholders to promote transparency. Cargill Vietnam’s Cargill Cares school building program has built and delivered 76 schools across rural communities. These schools benefit more than 13,000 children per year. (EB) 

  • Flights between Minneapolis and Paris with an estimated impact of $200 million were made possible by an Open Skies agreement negotiated by the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs. (EB) More»

  • The U.S. Embassy in Sweden supported the visit of Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton during his 2013 trade mission. (EUR) More»

  • Minnesota hosted foreign physicians, teachers, camp counselors, au pairs and others as part of work and study-based international exchange visitor programs. (ECA) More»

  • The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) contributed more than $7.5 million to the economy of Minnesota through contracts and federal grants that directly supported INL missions. (INL) More»

  • The Bureau of Diplomatic Security provided approximately $33,500 to Minnesota-based vendors for procurement of goods and services. (DS) More»

  • Three partnership plans were created under the Small Business Network of the Americas International Sister Center Program with Barbados, Brazil, and Panama. (WHA) More»

  • Click here for more information about Department career recruitment events in Minnesota. (HR)

• Education

  • Fulbright Scholarship Awards: 75 Scholars and Students from Minnesota. (ECA) More»

  • Diplomat-in-Residence (Robert Neus): Diplomats in Residence (DIRs) are career Foreign Service Officers located throughout the U.S. who provide guidance and advice to students, professionals and the community about Department careers. (HR) More»

  • The University of Minnesota hosted two Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program mid-level professionals from Nairobi, Kenya. The Humphrey Fellowship helps enhance the international orientation of U.S. campuses and its Fellows bring a wealth of perspectives and experiences to share with students, faculty and U.S. communities at large. (AF) More»

  • Academic partnerships between the University of Minnesota and the University of Johannesburg (general education) and with the University of the Free State in South Africa (agriculture). Partnerships with universities abroad help U.S. institutions strengthen their programs, promote opportunities for students and faculty and enhance their global presence. (AF) More»

  • 409 exchange visitors from overseas visited Minnesota and 262 Minnesota residents travelled overseas as part of the Department’s educational and cultural exchange funded programs. (ECA) More»

  • The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis received a $250,000 award from the Obama-Singh 21^st Century Knowledge Initiative to develop an inclusion model for children with disabilities with the Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, India. (SCA) More»

  • 62 Brazilian students attended several educational institutions in Minnesota through the Brazil Scientific Mobility Program. This program is funded by the Brazilian government and the private sector and sends 101,000 Brazilian university students of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to study and conduct research abroad. The U.S. is a priority destination for scholarship recipients, and the program strengthens U.S. and Brazilian institutional partnerships, develops a workforce prepared for 21st century opportunities, and contributes to long-term economic growth for both countries. (WHA) More»

  • Carleton College participated in an International Virtual College Fair hosted by the Department of State in 2013 to celebrate International Education Week and the $29 billion international student industry in the United States. The event featured colleges and universities from across the United States and had more than 22,000 potential students from 206 countries in attendance who completed nearly 55,000 visits to the virtual university booths. (IIP) More»

• Partnerships

  • Partners in Food Solutions (headquartered in Minneapolis), Technoserve (headquartered in Washington, DC), and USAID were recognized for their partnership to match the expertise of leading global food companies with food processors in East Africa to improve local nutrition and food security. The partnership was one of five finalists for the 2^nd annual P3 Impact Award. The P3 Impact Award was presented at the Concordia Summit in September 2014 by the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Global Partnerships, the University of Virginia Darden School of Business Institute for Business in Society, and Concordia. The award recognizes public-private partnerships (P3s) that are improving communities and the world in the most impactful ways, seeking to highlight best practices and actionable insights in the P3 arena. More information on the P3 Impact Award can be found here and the five 2015 finalists here. (S/GP)

  • Refugee Arrivals in 2015: 2,119. The Department works with nine domestic nongovernmental organizations, which place refugees in over 300 affiliated offices in roughly 180 communities around the country. These local offices work closely with community partners, congregations, volunteers, and state and local officials to provide a successful start for refugees rebuilding their lives. Refugee communities have historically enhanced the economic dynamism and cultural vitality of our nation. Refugees contribute to the United States in numerous ways, including by starting businesses and joining the U.S. military. (PRM) More»

  • The Department of State is partnering with the University of Minnesota to advance the One Health concept, which recognizes and seeks to promote understanding of the health links between humans, animals, and ecosystems. The One Health approach is improving the health of people, animals, and the environment in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam as part of the Department of State’s Lower Mekong Initiative. The effort will also promote gender equality in developing a One Health workforce of doctors, veterinarians, and biologists. (OES/EAP)

  • The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) partnered with the Minneapolis Police Department to bring Somali Police Officials to the United States for a study visit to learn about police procedures and operations, community policing, and relations with the community. (INL) More»

  • The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) supported Costa Rican officials to attend the 2015 National Center for State Courts Court Technology Conference in Minneapolis. (INL) More»

  • The Department of State facilitates the Minnesota National Guard State Partnership Program with Croatia founded in 1996. (PM) More»

  • The Office of Global Food Security entered a public-private partnership with several major companies as part of the Feed the Future program, including General Mills which is headquartered in Minnesota. (S/GFS) More»

  • Museums Connect Cultural Exchange partnership between the Minnesota Historical Society (Saint Paul) and the Palestinian Heritage Museum – Design Diaries International. (ECA) More»

• Travel and Security

  • Total Passports Issued in Fiscal Year 2015: 256,008. (CA) More»

  • The Minneapolis Passport Agency comprises 16 government employees and 14 contract employees. (CA) More»

  • Passport Applications Acceptance Facilities: 163 (CA) More»

  • Number of overseas adoptions for Minnesota families in Fiscal Year 2014: 186. The Office of Children's Issues plays an active role in the intercountry adoption process. Its work is dedicated to assisting parents as they seek to provide a home to orphans abroad. (CA) More»

  • Diplomatic Security Chicago Field Office serves Minnesota: Diplomatic Security has offices throughout the United States staffed with special agents and contract investigators, who conduct criminal, counterterrorism and background investigations. Agents assigned to field and resident offices assist in providing support to the protection of the Secretary of State, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and visiting foreign dignitaries. Liaison with federal and local law enforcement, foreign mission personnel, local officials, and the private sector complements their major responsibilities. (DS – Resident Office: Minneapolis Investigative Field Office) More»