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For additional information, contact: Mayor Don Ness at (218) 730-5230;

Susan Aulie or Dan Williams of Lutheran Social Service at (218) 529-2227.

Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota to create 35 professional jobs in Duluth

Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota has recently hired 10 financial counselors and plans to hire an additional 25 professionals to staff their new phone counseling center for financial counseling in Duluth by the end of 2010. The 35 professional level jobs offer professional development training and salaries range between $30,000-$35,000.

LSS Financial Counseling has been providing services in Duluth since 1987, and is the hub of other offices located in Brainerd, Willmar, Mankato, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Hopkins - as well as in Superior and on the campus of the University of Minnesota and the College of St. Catherine. The nonprofit organization expects to serve 18,000 households this year and over 24,000 families in the coming year. More than 5,500 calls come in per month to their scheduling center in Duluth. 

“We have simply been unable to keep up with demand for our services,” explained Susan Aulie, senior director of Financial Services for Lutheran Social Service. “We appreciate the support of the city and are grateful to our Lutheran partners for making it possible for us to expand and serve an increasing need for financial counseling in our community.

LSS worked closely with the City of Duluth to meet the space and financing needs of the new office. The expansion is made possible from a $2 million charitable loan from the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation and a $250,000 charitable loan from the Lutheran Community Foundation. LSS also plans to apply for a 1200 loan administered by the City as part of their job creation efforts.

LSS and the City of Duluth have worked closely together for many years to address critical issues in our area. Recently, LSS was one of the key leaders in the Mayor’s Foreclosure Study Group that has met over the past two years. LSS played a significant role in coordinating and identifying resources for Duluth residents undergoing home foreclosure. 

“We are very pleased that Lutheran Social Service is locating their phone counseling center for financial counseling here in Duluth,” said Mayor Don Ness. “This partnership not only creates 35 jobs in Duluth, more importantly, it expands the financial counseling services which are so critical during this recession. We are proud of our partnership with LSS and we are committed to their mission of serving Minnesota and Wisconsin from their Duluth office.”