$3.3 million in Dual Training Grants awarded to Minnesota employers

St. Paul — Minnesota employers will benefit from $3.347 million in Dual Training Grants from the Minnesota Office of Higher Education to fund related instruction of dual-training programs. Of the funds awarded, $1.9 million was awarded to employers located in greater Minnesota.

The funding will help 56 employers located throughout Minnesota provide educational advancement and career pathways to a total of 644 current and new employees. Grant applications for this year’s funding was the most competitive round to date with nearly $4.5 million requested, leaving over $1.1 million in requests from 20 employers unfunded.

"These grants support economic growth throughout the state, empowering businesses and connecting Minnesotans to great careers," said Commissioner Dennis Olson, Minnesota Office of Higher Education. “I am thrilled to see employer interest in this funding grow every year. 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.” 

The Dual Training Grant Program at the Minnesota Office of Higher Education partners with the Minnesota Dual-Training Pipeline Program at the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry to help employers meet their workforce needs by creating earn-and-learn programs for employees. Employers collaborate with training providers and contribute substantially to the development and career advancement 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.

Grants are available to employers who are in the following high-growth, in-demand industries:  advanced manufacturing, agriculture, health care services and information technology. Of the 56 employers receiving a grant this year, 29 are in in advanced manufacturing, 23 are in health care services, two are in agriculture and two are in information technology

"We are excited to continue our support of employers and workers with this new round of grants,” said Commissioner Roslyn Robertson, Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. "As our economy moves forward, apprenticeships and dual training continue to be important training models that will help Minnesota employers recruit and retain employees.” 

Grants are being awarded to the following Minnesota organizations:

• Acme Metal Spinning – Fridley

• ADT Dental – Minneapolis

• AGCO – Jackson

• Alliance Machine – Elk River

• Allina Health – Minneapolis

• American Crystal Sugar Company – Moorhead

• Anoka Area Chamber of Commerce – Anoka

• Apple Tree Dental – Mounds View

• Bedford Industries – Worthington

• C.A.R.E. Clinic – Red Wing

• CentraCare Health System – St. Cloud

• Cerenity Senior Care – White Bear Lake

• Children's Minnesota – Edina

• City of St. Cloud (Whitney Senior Center)  – St. Cloud

• Community Dental Care – Maplewood

• Cuyuna Regional Medical Center – Crosby

• Daikin Applied Americas – Faribault

• Dakota County Regional Chamber Foundation – Eagan

• Design Ready Controls – Brooklyn Park

• DeZURIK – Sartell

• Dotson Iron Castings – Mankato

• Fair Meadow Nursing Home – Fertile

• Fairview Health Services – St. Paul

• Family Tree Clinic – Minneapolis

• Grand Village – Grand Rapids

• Greater Bemidji – Bemidji

• Hennepin EMS – Minneapolis

• HyLife – Windom

• In Control – Blaine

• Intek Plastics – Hastings

• Intercultural Mutual Assistance Association – Rochester

• IPS Cranes, St. Paul

• Jones Metal – Mankato

• K&G Manufacturing – Faribault

• KLN Family Brands – Perham

• Knute Nelson – Alexandria

• Mankato Clinic – Mankato

• Minnesota Landscape Arboretum – Chaska

• MRG – Faribault

• North Memorial Health Care – Robbinsdale

• Pequot Tool & Manufacturing – Pequot Lakes

• Perham Health – Perham

• Plastic Products Company – Lindstrom

• Post Consumer Brands – Northfield

• Productive Alternatives – Fergus Falls

• rms Company – Coon Rapids

• Sackett-Waconia – Waconia

• Sage Electrochromics – Faribault

• Sanford Health – Multiple locations statewide

• Sappi Cloquet – Cloquet

• Seneca Foods – Le Sueur

• The Aagard Group – Alexandria

• Two Rivers Enterprises – Holdingford

• UMC – Monticello

• V-TEK – Mankato

• WellShare International – Minneapolis

More information

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.