Sixth round of PIPELINE Program dual-training grants awarded

Forty-one Minnesota companies will share more than $2.1 million in state funding to begin employment-based dual-training for 482 current and new employees as part of the Minnesota PIPELINE Program.

The Dual Training Grants legislation, signed into law in 2015 by Gov. Mark Dayton, was created to give employee-students the opportunity to earn while they learn, while at the same time helping businesses meet workforce needs. Four industries with in-demand, high-growth occupations are eligible to receive grants: advanced manufacturing, health care services, information technology and agriculture.

"Whether it's a certificate or degree, completing some level of a postsecondary education will help an employee be successful at their current job and into the future," said Commissioner Larry Pogemiller, Minnesota Office of Higher Education. "This program provides the added advantage of providing participants with a paycheck while they learn."

Twenty-six of the new grants are being awarded to companies located in Greater Minnesota, with 15 in the metro area. Thirty-one of the grants are in advanced manufacturing, one in agriculture, two in health care and eight in information technology. One of the grantees has a grant in both advanced manufacturing and in agriculture. Employees will earn a wide variety of certifications and degrees as part of this program that will help improve their skills and advance their careers.

The Minnesota Office of Higher Education administers the Dual Training Grants, in collaboration with the Minnesota PIPELINE Program at the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI). Grant funds can be used to cover students'/employees' tuition, fees and required materials for the related instruction training in PIPELINE Program occupations.

"By combining on-the-job training with classroom learning, the PIPELINE Program helps employers develop their workforce," said DLI Commissioner Ken Peterson. "Apprenticeships and dual-training continue to be great ways to meet workforce needs and have recently seen tremendous growth in the United States. We are excited to continue to support them in Minnesota with this sixth round of grants."

Grants are being awarded to the following Minnesota organizations.

1. Ajax Metal Forming Solutions, LLC , Fridley – Hennepin Technical College and Minneapolis Community and Technical College

2. Alliance Machine, Inc., Elk River – Tooling U

3. Alomere Health, Alexandria – Central Lakes College

4. Art Unlimited, Angora – Rasmussen

5. AWT Labels & Packaging, Minneapolis – Flexographic Tech

6. Bedford Industries, Worthington – Minnesota West Community and Technical College

7. Beltmann Relocation Group, Roseville – New Horizons

8. Citon Computer Corporation, Duluth – Lake Superior College

9. Condux International, Mankato – South Central College

10. Cybex International, Owatonna – South Central College

11. Daikin Applied, Faribault – South Central College

12. Decopac, Inc., Anoka – Hennepin Technical College

13. Design Ready Controls, Brooklyn Park – Hennepin Technical College, Minnesota State University – Mankato, Bemidji State University

14. DeZURIK, Inc., Sartell – St. Cloud Technical and Community College

15. Dotson Iron Castings, Mankato – South Central College

16. Dynamic Group, Ramsey – Dunwoody College of Technology, Hennepin Technical College, Anoka Technical College

17. Fairview Health Services, St. Paul – Knowledge Peak, Intertech, Help Desk Institute, Pink Elephant, Global Knowledge, New Horizons, ISACA

18. Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare, St. Paul – University of Minnesota – Twin Cities

19. Goodwill Industries, Inc., St. Paul – New Horizons

20. Greater Bemidji, Bemidji – The Idea Circle/Minnesota Innovation Initiative

21. Intercultural Mutual Assistance Association, Rochester – Rochester Community and Technical College

22. IPS Cranes, St. Paul – University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

23. JBS, Worthington – Minnesota West Community and Technical College

24. Jones Metal Inc., Mankato – South Central College

25. K&G Manufacturing, Faribault – South Central College

26. Lofton Label, Inver Grove Heights – Flexographic Tech

27. Manufacturing Partners Inc., Becker – Tooling U

28. Marvin Windows and Doors, Warroad – The Idea Circle/Minnesota Innovation Initiative

29. McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing LLC, Dodge Center – Riverland Community College

30. New Bedford Technology, LLC, Worthington – Minnesota West Community and Technical College

31. Pequot Tool and Manufacturing Inc., Pequot Lakes – PTM Incumbent Worker Training

32. Sage Glass, Faribault – South Central College

33. SAPPI Cloquet LLC, Cloquet – Lake Superior College

34. Seneca Foods Corporation, LeSeuer – South Central College

35. SFC Global Supply Chain, Marshall – Minnesota West Community and Technical College

36. Thomson Reuters, Eagan – Creating IT Futures Foundation

37. Ultra Machining Company, Monticello – St. Cloud Technical College and Hennepin Technical College

38. UMA Precision Machining, Zimmerman – Anoka Ramsey Community College, Hawk Ridge Systems

39. Vital Images, Inc., Minnetonka – New Horizons

40. Yeager Machine Inc., Norwood Young America – Ridgewater Community College

41. Zero Zone, Ramsey – Anoka Technical College

For more information about Dual Training Grants, contact Sandy Connolly at 651-259-3902 or sandy.connolly@state.mn.us.

For more information about the Minnesota PIPELINE Program, contact Annie Welch, PIPELINE Program manager, at 651-284-5353 or annie.welch@state.mn.us.

News media contacts:
James Honerman, DLI
651-284-5313
james.honerman@state.mn.us

Sandy Connolly, OHE
651-259-3902
sandy.connolly@state.mn.us