State partners with 59 businesses to provide on-the-job training

[ST. PAUL, MN] – Governor Walz today announced that the state is partnering with 59 Minnesota businesses to provide nearly $3.3 million in Dual Training Grants to fund on-the-job training for employees in high-demand industries. Over half of the grants awarded by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE) were to employers located in greater Minnesota. 
 
“These grants provide continued educational opportunities that strengthen our workforce, benefit our businesses, and grow our economy,” said Governor Walz. “The state is committed to investing in Minnesota’s economic future by supporting our businesses and providing career growth and training opportunities for workers to excel in our high-demand industries.”
 
"These grants support economic growth throughout the state, empowering businesses and connecting Minnesotans to great careers," said OHE Commissioner Dennis Olson. “These businesses are critical partners in our work to provide an array of postsecondary options, and I hope we will be able to support all who are interested in future grant rounds.”
 
OHE’s Dual Training Grant program partners with the Minnesota Dual-Training Pipeline Program at the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) to help employers meet their workforce needs by creating earn-and-learn programs for employees. Employers collaborate with training providers and contribute substantially to career advancement and development of their employees by providing them with on-the-job training and supporting their postsecondary education. Grant funds can be used to cover the cost of dual trainees' tuition, fees and required materials for the related instruction training in program occupations.
 
The awarded funding will allow 59 employers to provide educational advancement and career pathways to a total of 664 current and new employees.
 
Grants are currently available to employers who are in the following high-growth, in-demand industries: advanced manufacturing, agriculture, health care services, and information technology. Of the 59 employers receiving a grant this year, 28 are in health care services, 26 in advanced manufacturing, three in agriculture and two in information technology.
 
“Pipeline dual training and registered apprenticeships are important training models that provide skills for workers and help employers meet their workforce needs,” said DLI Commissioner Nicole Blissenbach. "We are excited to continue our support of Minnesota’s employers and workers with this new round of grants.”
 
Last week, the Minnesota Legislature passed the Higher Education Omnibus Budget Bill which invests over $5 million in the Dual Training Grant program for the next biennium, as well as an ongoing increased investment of $1 million per year. In addition, the Legislature has expanded the program’s eligible industries to include childcare and transportation, both industries that have statewide workforce shortages and require industry-related training. Governor Walz plans to sign the Higher Education Omnibus Budget Bill in the coming weeks.

Grants are being awarded to the following Minnesota organizations:

• Acme Metal Spinning – Fridley

• Allina Health System – Minneapolis

• American Crystal Sugar Company – Moorhead

• Apple Tree Dental – Mounds View

• Bedford Industries – Worthington

• BTD MFG – Detroit Lakes

• C.A.R.E. Clinic – Red Wing

• Center for Alcohol and Drug Treatment – Duluth

• CentraCare Health System – St. Cloud

• Cerenity Senior Care – White Bear Lake

• Children's Minnesota – Edina

• Community Dental Care – Maplewood

• Cuyuna Regional Medical Center – Crosby

• Daikin Applied Americas – Faribault

• Dakota County Regional Chamber Foundation – Eagan

• Design Ready Controls – Brooklyn Park

• Dotson Iron Castings – Mankato

• Fair Meadow Nursing Home – Fertile

• Fairview Health Services – St. Paul

• Family Tree Clinic – Minneapolis

• Grand Rapids Dental Care – Grand Rapids

• Grand Village – Grand Rapids

• Greater Bemidji – Bemidji

• HealthPartners – Bloomington

• HyLife Foods – Windom

• In Control – Fridley

• Intek Plastics – Hastings

• JBS Pork – Worthington

• Jones Metal – Mankato

• Jones-Harrison Residence – Minneapolis

• KLN Family Brands – Perham

• Knute Nelson – Alexandria

• Mankato Clinic – Mankato

• Mayo Clinic – Rochester

• McNeilus Truck & Manufacturing – Dodge Center

• Mille Lacs Health System – Onamia

• Minnesota Precision Manufacturing Association – Plymouth

• MRG Tool and Die – Faribault

• North Memorial Health Care – Robbinsdale

• Perham Health – Perham

• Pike Lake Dental Center – Duluth

• Plastic Products Company – Lindstrom

• Post Consumer Brands – Northfield

• rms company – Coon Rapids

• Sage Electrochromics – Faribault

• Sanford Health – Bemidji

• Sappi Cloquet – Cloquet

• Seneca Foods Corporation – LeSueur

• St. Peter Family Dental Center – Saint Peter

• Stevens Community Medical Center – Morris

• Stillwater Family Dental – Oak Park Heights

• Syngenta Seeds – Amboy

• The Aagard Group – Alexandria

• Two Rivers Enterprises – Holdingford

• UMC – Monticello

• University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum – Chaska

• V-TEK – Mankato

• WellShare International – Minneapolis

• Winegar – Waseca

 
For more information about Dual Training Grants contact Jacquelynn Mol Sletten, state financial aid administrator, at 651-355-0609 or jacquelynn.mol.sletten@state.mn.us.
 
For more information about Minnesota Dual-Training Pipeline contact Dan Solomon, program manager, at 651-284-5355 or dan.solomon@state.mn.us.