Pipeline success

Navigate To ...

For business >
Apprenticeship and dual training >
Minnesota Dual-Training Pipeline

Dual-training recognition badge

Minnesota Dual-Training Pipeline invites employers using a dual-training program for workforce development to apply for a dual-training recognition badge. By securing this recognition, businesses and organizations are more likely to attract quality-seeking employees and experience increased retention among their employees. Pipeline staff will review the application and notify the employer regarding the recognition opportunity:

Once an employer is recognized, they can display the Minnesota Dual-Training Pipeline employer badge on their business properties and website.
When an employer is recognized, their partner education provider and any community-based organizations they work with may display the Pipeline Dual-Training partner badge on their business properties and website.


Download employer badge	Download partner badge

Goodwill-Easter Seals

Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that provides job training and career navigation services to eliminate barriers to work and independence. Revenue from nearly 50 retail stores ― along with grants and financial contributions ― supports Minnesotans with digital literacy skills, resume development, understanding government benefits and more. Shopping and donating helps divert over 65 million pounds from landfills annually and have helped connect people to jobs since 1919. Goodwill-Easter Seals has used the Minnesota Dual-Training Pipeline for information technology training for four grant rounds, which has led to IT certificates and advancement for fourteen employees at the organization.

"In a competitive technology job market, the Dual-Training Pipeline has been an effective tool to increase engagement and allow our staff to grow into new roles."

– Christopher McCarty, director, Information Technology

"I received training and exposure that allowed me to increase my skills and jump from our IT service desk to the IT development team where I am now creating apps, designing automations and building software solutions."

– Joery Thor, dual trainee

New Ulm Medical Center

New Ulm Medical Center is a nonprofit hospital and clinic serving the region in and around Brown County located in south central Minnesota. The medical center includes over 600 employees and approximately 50 multi-specialty physicians and has been recognized as a national leader in areas of patient safety, population health, innovation, and data analytics.

“As a rural healthcare provider, ensuring that we have a local talent pipeline is critical to the health of the communities we serve. We have participated in the Minnesota Dual-Training Pipeline program for three years now, and have expanded our programs to include both licensed practical nursing and surgical technologists. This program has allowed us to address critical workforce shortages while supporting our employees as they pursue the careers of their dreams. As an employer, we are leveraging existing tuition reimbursement programs in parallel with this program, so our trainees are able to follow their professional calling without the worry of financial hardships. We’ve been able to successfully place multiple trainees in their chosen profession, thanks to the Dual Training Grant, and look forward to building our local workforce with this partnership for years to come.”

– Katie Slette, director of human resources, New Ulm Medical Center, a part of Allina Health

In Control, Inc.

In Control, Inc. is a Fridley, Minnesota-based automation controls engineering services and manufacturing company that has supported the municipal utility markets including water, wastewater, electrical and natural gas for 31 years. In Control has used dual training since 2022.

“Delivering automation controls requires several specialized employees working together as a team. Specialty manufacturing engineering employees are not prevalent in the labor market and are difficult to staff. As a result, In Control prioritizes hiring capable, driven employees and invests heavily in training and retention. The Dual-Training Pipeline is an important part of our training strategy and has proved effective in filling these specialty roles. It also incentivizes employees to stay with In Control as it reflects a sincere commitment to grow the employee both professionally and personally. The dual trainee’s role as a manufacturing engineer is instrumental to project success. Specifically, the trainee plays a key role designing the engineered electrical equipment In Control provides, selecting the components that meet the application, and working with manufacturing to bring the design to a finished product.”

– Graham Arntzen, vice president and owner, In Control, Inc.

“Dual training has been a phenomenal help to me. Because of the state funding, I have been able to continue going to school full time and I'm now on track to graduate in spring of 2025 with a bachelor's degree in controls engineering. This wouldn't have been possible without the help of dual training.”

– Grace Luke, 2024 In Control Minnesota Dual Training Program manufacturing engineer trainee

Minnesota Dual-Training Pipeline receives innovation award

The Minnesota Dual-Training Pipeline was awarded a 2016 State Government Innovation Award from the University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs and the Nonprofit Leadership Center. The award recognizes "the great work of state government entities and encourages an environment of experimentation and innovation in Minnesota."