North Branch Area High School has been awarded a $59,000 Youth Skills Training Grant from the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. The grant will allow the school to create a program that provides students aged 16 and older with meaningful career exposure and hands-on work experience in high-demand fields like manufacturing, automotive pathways, healthcare, and information technology.
“This exciting program has been incredibly beneficial for students and small businesses across Minnesota, and I am excited to see the benefits it will create for folks in our area as well,” Senator Koran (R-North Branch) said. “By participating in real-world, paid internships and training, students will gain valuable skills and experience that will give them a head start on their future careers.”
Students in North Branch will have the chance to earn industry-recognized certifications, learn from professionals, and develop skills like teamwork, communication and critical thinking. This hands on-experience aims at opening students’ eyes to career paths they wouldn’t have otherwise considered. Local employers will also benefit from building a talent pipeline for their companies, creating a a positive impact on workforce development in the region for years to come.
North Branch can use the grant funding over the next two years to recruit students and employers, provide training, transport students, and pay for certifications.
The bipartisan Youth Skills Training Program, which was signed into law in 2017, awarded grants to five schools in this round of funding totaling $500,000. The goal is to better prepare high schoolers for jobs in growing industries around the state. The five schools received grants in this funding round for programs operating from Oct. 1, 2023, to June 30, 2025. The next funding round will open in winter of 2023.
In February, the Department of Labor and Industry announced 12 partnerships had been selected for the first round of 2023 grants. For more information about Youth Skills Training, visit dli.mn.gov/YST.