ST. PAUL 鈥� Gov. Tim Walz recently announced grant recipients sharing in nearly $20 million to grow Minnesota鈥檚 Drive for Five Workforce initiative 鈥� a new effort to prepare more Minnesotans for high-demand jobs in five occupational categories: technology, the trades, caring professions, manufacturing and education.
Among the recipients is Bemidji State University, which houses the Minnesota State Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence, receiving $750,000.
ADVERTISEMENT
鈥淲e鈥檙e partnering with organizations across the state to expand job training programs and grow the workforce for the future,鈥� Walz said in a release. 鈥淏y investing in career training, we鈥檙e helping businesses find the skilled workers they need while helping Minnesotans find fulfilling careers and earn family-sustaining wages. This is good for our workers, our businesses and our economy.鈥�
According to the release, grant recipients will train and place an estimated 1,200 Minnesotans over the next 15 months in high-demand jobs, benefiting an estimated 3,000 Minnesota businesses.
The industries selected to be part of Drive for Five are projected to be high-growth in the years ahead and provide family-sustaining wages for workers, defined as having a median hourly wage at or above $19.46.
鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to announce this great slate of Drive for Five grantees,鈥� DEED Deputy Commissioner for Workforce Development Marc Majors said in the release. 鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to the work we鈥檒l do together over the coming years.鈥�
The Trust Project
