Governor Tim Walz announced nearly $20 million in grants for Minnesota’s workforce through the Drive for 5 Workforce initiative. This initiative aims to prepare more Minnesotans for high-demand jobs in technology, the trades, caring professions, manufacturing, and education. The grants will train and place around 1,200 individuals in these fields, benefitting an estimated 3,000 businesses. The program focuses on providing training aligned with sector needs and aims to help workers find fulfilling careers while assisting businesses in finding skilled employees. The Drive for 5 initiative is part of a broader effort to invest in workforce development, with significant funding allocated to support historically overlooked communities.
The DEED’s Drive for 5 program is set to train and place around 1,200 Minnesotans in high-demand jobs over 15 months, benefiting 3,000 businesses. Commissioner Matt Varilek sees it as a crucial step for Minnesota workers and employers, aligning training with industry needs. The program targets industries with projected growth, offering family-sustaining wages. Marc Majors, Deputy Commissioner for Workforce Development, is excited about the impact on careers in caring professions, education, manufacturing, technology, and trades.
The Drive for Five program not only trains workers for in-demand careers but also helps them find jobs through partnerships with trade associations and chambers of commerce. These partnerships aim to break barriers to employment for Minnesotans facing challenges. By aligning training programs with local employer needs, the initiative creates a talent pipeline for high-demand jobs. This investment is part of a larger effort by DEED, totaling $216 million, to boost workforce development and promote economic equity in Minnesota.
Drive for 5 Workforce Training Grantees:
- African Community Services – $325,000 – Caring Professions, Technology – Twin Cities Metro
- Alexandria Technical & Community College – $750,000 – Technology, Trades – Greater MN
- Anoka County Job Training Center – $400,000 – Caring Professions – Twin Cities Metro
- Augsburg University – $240,000 – Education – Twin Cities Metro
- Bemidji State University/MN State Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence – $750,000 – Manufacturing – Greater MN
- Black Men Teach – $200,000 – Education – Twin Cities Metro
- Career Solutions – $700,000 – Manufacturing – Greater MN
- Center for African Immigrant and Refugee Organization – $400,000 – Caring Professions – Greater MN
- City of Duluth Workforce Development – $390,000 – Education, Trades – Greater MN
- Faribault Public Schools – $300,000 – Caring Professions, Education – Greater MN
- Hennepin Technical College – $250,000 – Manufacturing – Twin Cities Metro
- HIRED – $500,000 – Manufacturing – Twin Cities Metro
- Intermediate School District 917 – $550,000 – Education – Twin Cities Metro
- Karen Organization of Minnesota – $500,000 – Trades – Twin Cities Metro
- Lutheran Social Services – $750,000 – Education – Twin Cities Metro
- Minnpoly – $740,000 – Manufacturing – Greater MN
- North Memorial Health Care – $740,000 – Caring Professions – Twin Cities Metro
- Otter Tail County – $250,000 – Caring Professions, Manufacturing, Trades – Greater MN
- Pine Tech – $725,000 – Caring Professions, Manufacturing – Greater MN
- Project for Pride in Living – $300,000 – Caring Professions, Technology – Twin Cities Metro
- Regents of the University of Minnesota – $740,000 – Caring Professions – Twin Cities Metro
- Rural Minnesota CEP – $750,000 – Caring Professions, Manufacturing, Technology, Trades – Greater MN
- Southwest Metro Intermediate District #288 – $750,000 – Caring Professions, Education, Technology, Trades – Twin Cities Metro
- Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council – $600,000 – Caring Professions, Education, Manufacturing, Technology, Trades – Greater MN