Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month When Clayton Bowers moved back to his hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, he had a dream: to be near the lake, spend more time with family, and build a life centered around health and purpose. After a spinal surgery that left him battling nerve issues and chronic back pain, ... Read moreRead Article

  Partnership unites two organizations with deep-rooted commitments to inclusion, empowerment and innovation A Shared Legacy of Inclusion For more than 60 years, MDI has been a champion for empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities through meaningful employment opportunities and training, and so it’s only fitting that we are an official sponsor of the 2026 Special ... Read moreRead Article

Prevent More, Fix Faster: The QA Balancing Act You’re tasked with preventing defects before they occur and also managing any issues that slip through. It’s a balancing act between being proactive to build quality into your processes and being prepared to react swiftly when something goes wrong. Quality assurance leaders in manufacturing carry a huge ... Read moreRead Article

Manufacturing Labor Shortage Trends in Minnesota and Wisconsin   If you run a mid-sized manufacturing business in Minnesota or Wisconsin, you’re probably feeling the pressure of the ongoing labor shortage. Even though more people have entered the workforce post-pandemic, the number of open manufacturing jobs still far exceeds the number of available workers. In Wisconsin, ... Read moreRead Article

The 2025 class is the largest in the scholarship program’s history Whether at its Minneapolis location or manufacturing facilities in Grand Rapids, Hibbing and Cohasset, empowering people and communities fuels MDI’s mission to provide meaningful employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Through its Success at Work scholarship program, the social enterprise manufacturer recently honored 40 ... Read moreRead Article

On Saturday, June 21, 2025, during the vibrant energy of the Special Olympics Minnesota Summer Games, Unified Work once again brought innovation and inclusion to life at the University of Minnesota Athletes Village. As part of the Inclusive Work Career Fair, our team engaged athletes with a dynamic suite of hands-on experiences, including immersive virtual ... Read moreRead Article

Minnesota Diversified Industries (MDI) has awarded $2,000 higher education scholarships to 40 graduating high school students. Congratulations graduates! What ‘Success at Work’ Scholarship Program is The MDI Success at Work scholarship program is a commitment to supporting the educational endeavors of students within the communities we proudly serve. The scholarship program is for applicants between ... Read moreRead Article

The manufacturing sector in Minnesota has always been resilient – but 2025 presents challenges unlike any before. From escalating tariffs to labor shortages and cost volatility, the pressure on operations leaders is intense. And yet, for those ready to pivot, opportunity lies ahead. Minnesota’s Economic Outlook: Resilient, but Cautious Minnesota’s manufacturers entered 2025 with a ... Read moreRead Article

On Tuesday, April 8, seventy employees across MDI’s Hibbing, Grand Rapids, Cohasset, and Minneapolis, and Roseville locations came together for our annual day of civic engagement at the Minnesota State Capitol. MDI encourages and demonstrates advocacy – the process of engaging with elected officials and government agencies to support a specific action. The day helps ... Read moreRead Article

CHALLENGE A leading Fortune Global 500 e-commerce retailer faced excessive noise from molded plastic containers on conveyor systems in their distribution centers, violating OSHA noise level standards. This required costly hearing protection measures for employees. INITIAL SOLUTION & ISSUES Switching to fiberboard containers reduced noise but introduced problems: ■ Short Lifespan: Containers lasted only 3-4 ... Read moreRead Article

At MDI, we’ve long believed that employing people with disabilities isn’t just a matter of doing good—it’s about creating value. So we’re thrilled to be featured in the upcoming book Hidden Talent, written by workforce expert David DeLong. The book highlights organizations that have cracked the code on hiring marginalized workers, including people with disabilities, ... Read moreRead Article

We are thrilled to announce that MDI has achieved an exceptional Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 93%! This outstanding score reflects the deep trust and satisfaction our customers have in our products and services, indicating their strong willingness to recommend us. What Does This Mean for You? Exceptional Service: Our unwavering commitment to quality and ... Read moreRead Article