Labor and Industry announces 2026 Youth Skills Training grant recipients

Seventeen partnerships across Minnesota will receive funding to develop and expand programs to offer meaningful career exposure and paid work experience for students aged 16 and older.

The grants are part of the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry’s (DLI) Youth Skills Training (YST) program, which provides employment training for student learners in high-growth, high-demand occupations.

"Youth Skills Training continues to create meaningful opportunities for young people in communities across Minnesota. With this latest round of grants, we are proud to support 11 new and six returning partnerships as they expand access to safe work experiences for high school students. The strong response to this grant round reflects the continued momentum and value of this program," said Nicole Blissenbach, DLI commissioner. “We are grateful to our partners for their commitment to helping students build skills, explore careers, and prepare for future success."

The following 17 partnerships will receive and split a total of $1.5 million in funding for programs operating from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2028. The partnerships will offer safe, meaningful work experience in advanced manufacturing, agriculture, automotive, health care and information technology.

• Big Lake Schools

• Breckenridge Public Schools

• Children's Dental Services

• Cloquet High School

• Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton Public Schools

• Eden Prairie Schools

• Farmington High School

• Fergus Falls High School

• Great River School

•  HAP (Hmong American Partnership)

• Hopkins Public Schools

• Itasca Area Schools Collaborative

• Parkers Prairie School District

• St. Cloud Area School District

• Stillwater Area High School

• Warroad Public Schools

• Westonka High School

Grants can be used to create programs, recruit students and employers, provide training, transport students and pay for industry-related student certifications. A 10th round of grant applications will open in winter 2026.

More information

For more information about Youth Skills Training, contact us at YST.DLI@state.mn.us or 651-284-5354.

Media contact:  James Honerman at james.honerman@state.mn.us.