Partnership with local businesses to train students in high growth & demand jobs
On Friday, June 8, the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry awarded five business-school partnerships across the state $95,000 grants each to develop and implement paid apprenticeship opportunities for local high school students. The grants are the result of Senator Paul Anderson’s [R-Plymouth] bipartisan Youth Skills Training Program legislation that was signed into law by Governor Mark Dayton in 2017.
“Businesses across the state have been facing a shortage of qualified skilled workers for years, and this program aims to shrink that skills gap and help prepare skilled workers for the future,” said Senator Anderson, Vice Chairman of the Senate Jobs and Economic Growth Committee. “By forming local partnerships with schools, business groups, and employers, the Youth Skills Training Program collaboratively helps prepare skilled workers in high-growth, high-demand occupations across Minnesota.”
The Youth Skills Training Program connects high school students ages 16 and older with hands-on apprenticeships and internships at local employers, along with direct and close supervision of a qualified and experienced professional. The Youth Skills Training Program allows flexibility to create a program that fits the specific community where it is being implemented.
The grants were awarded to five partnerships across the state, representing 13 school districts and more than 50 employer partners in the manufacturing, health care and information technology industries. Locally, TwinWest Youth Skills Training Program was the recipient of one of the five grants awarded.
“Through TwinWest’s work-based training program, students in our area who are interested in going into high-demand skilled labor jobs will be equipped with the experience, skills, and tools they need to succeed in the economy of today and tomorrow,” added Senator Anderson. “I look forward to watching this program grow so that we can increase career opportunities for our future workforce, and meet the increasing demand for qualified skilled workers.”
“The TwinWest Chamber is honored to be selected for the Youth Skills Training Program grant,” said Shannon Full, President of the TwinWest Chamber of Commerce. “The ability to attract, retain and develop talent is one of the top challenges for our businesses in the region.”
“We will be partnering with three of our local school districts and hundreds of businesses through this program to increase career exploration experiences for students and strengthen the future talent pipeline for our companies,” added Full. “These internships, job shadows, and mentoring programs will increase the students’ awareness and hands-on experience within our local companies. Our goals are to broaden the students’ awareness of high-demand industries, build relationships and increase exposure; strengthen the future talent pipeline for our companies; and retain as many future workers as we can in our region.”
Twenty-five local partnerships throughout the state applied for pilot program grant funding. These partnerships involved more than 60 school districts and more than 100 employers in four different industries. A second round of grant applications will open in fall 2018.