Five partnerships awarded Youth Skills Training grants

CONTACT:  James Honerman, 651-284-5313 or james.honerman@state.mn.us.

The grants are part of a Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (YST@DLI) program, which was signed into law in 2017 with bipartisan support, to create and provide employment training for student learners ages 16 and older in high-growth, high-demand occupations.

"These grants allow high schools, businesses and community organizations to work together to train students and create skilled workers for their communities," said Ken Peterson, DLI commissioner.

YST@DLI grants will be awarded to the following partnerships, who represent 25 school districts and more than 50 employer partners in advanced manufacturing, health care and agriculture.

• ISD 728 serving the communities of Elk River, Otsego, Rogers and Zimmerman

• ISD 831 Forest Lake Area Schools

• ISD 287 Pathways to College

• Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council

• Vadnais Heights Economic Development Corporation

Grants can be used to create programs, recruit students and employers, provide training, transport students and pay for student certifications.

Thirty-three local partnerships throughout the state applied for this second round of grants. These partnerships involve more than 79 school districts and more than 160 employers in five different industries. A third round of grant applications will open in fall 2019.

About YST@DLI

The YST@DLI program develops partnerships between schools and employers at a local level, to provide students with classroom instruction, safety training and paid learning opportunities in industries such as advanced manufacturing, agriculture, automotive, health care and information technology.

For more information about the Youth Skills Training Program or grant opportunities, contact Rich Wessels at 651-284-5184 or yst.dli@state.mn.us.