Pathways to Prosperity Awards $17.8 Million Statewide for 57 Workforce Training Programs

ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has awarded 57 grants statewide totaling $17,884,007 under the Minnesota Pathways to Prosperity program.

Pathways to Prosperity Competitive Grants fund programs and services designed to provide workforce development and training opportunities to adults in Minnesota experiencing barriers to employment. These programs help job seekers develop increased career awareness, participate in education training and skills-training programs, and connect to employment in high growth, high demand industries with long-term opportunities.

"The Pathways to Prosperity initiative plays an essential role in the training of our state's workforce, and in reducing economic disparities in our communities," said Governor Mark Dayton. "These 57 new grants will help connect Minnesotans to valuable education and training opportunities – preparing them for well-paying jobs in health care, advanced manufacturing, information technology, and more."

"Pathways to Prosperity is the state’s marquee workforce development solution to reducing disparities in our state," said DEED Commissioner Shawntera Hardy. "Each program pairs education, training and resources for wrap around services to assist Minnesotans in finding and keeping jobs that pay family-sustaining wages while ensuring that businesses have the talent that is needed to compete."

The following organizations have been awarded one or more Pathways to Prosperity grants, pending contract finalization and financial review:

AccessAbility Inc., Minneapolis, $400,000

Career pathways training in construction, manufacturing and healthcare for people of color, immigrants, and former offenders in Hennepin and Ramsey counties.

African Community Services, Minneapolis, $200,000

Information technology and business services training will serve East African population.

American Indian OIC, Minneapolis, $625,000

Healthcare, IT, business and construction training to serve those needing the most support to move into a career pathway.

Anoka County, $550,000

Healthcare and manufacturing training to serve communities of color and people with disabilities.

Avivo, Minneapolis, $500,000

Business services and manufacturing training serving people of color and those experiencing homelessness with a goal of stabilization.

CAPI, Minneapolis, $625,000

Healthcare and manufacturing training to serve people of color.

Career Solutions, St. Cloud, $250,000

Manufacturing training to serve targeted populations in Greater Minnesota.

City of Duluth, $326,216

Healthcare and construction training to serve low-income, people of color, those with criminal records, and those with disabilities.

City of Minneapolis, $600,000

Healthcare and public safety training serving those with barriers to education and employment.

CLUES, Saint Paul, $625,000

Healthcare training for Latino and new immigrant communities in the Metro Area and Central Minnesota.

Community Action Center, Northfield, $174,000

Healthcare, manufacturing and education in the public sectors serving low-income, people of color, and those with limited English proficiency.

Goodwill Industries, Inc., Saint Paul, $623,214

Construction and manufacturing training focused on East Africans and former offenders.

Greater Bemidji Inc., Bemidji, $550,000

Construction and manufacturing training to serve Native American communities.

Guadalupe Alternative Programs, Saint Paul, $325,000

Customer service and IT training with a focus on 18- to 24-year-old participants with a criminal background, immigrants, and refugees.

HIRED, Saint Paul, $500,000

Construction training to serve people of color and disadvantaged job seekers.

Hmong American Partnership, Saint Paul, $300,000

Healthcare and manufacturing training to serve Asian communities in St. Paul.

International Institute of Minnesota, Saint Paul, $625,000

Healthcare training will serve new Americans.

Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis, $550,000

IT training focusing on people of color.

Karen Organization of Minnesota, Roseville, $425,000

Healthcare and public sector training to serve refugees from Burma and other diverse populations.

Lifetrack, Saint Paul, $250,000

Digital literacy and customer service training to serve low-income, people of color, immigrants and hard-to-employ individuals.

Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, Saint Paul, $540,000

Healthcare training to serve low-income, people of color, and those with limited academic skills.

Merrick Community Services, Saint Paul, $250,000

Office specialist and public sector training focused on east Metro Area residents.

Metro East Adult Basic Education, School District 622, Maplewood, $189,150

IT training to serve people of color and those with low academic skills.

Minnesota Computers for Schools, Bayport, $275,000

IT training to serve immigrants, low-income, and disadvantaged adults through established education and business partners.

Minnesota Valley Action Council, Inc., Mankato, $600,000

Healthcare and manufacturing training will serve people of color, people with disabilities, low-income and low basic skills in South Central and Southwest Minnesota.

Northfield Healthy Community Initiative, Northfield, $91,919

Training targeted to people of color for Northfield’s public education workforce.

Northwest Indian Community Development Center, Bemidji, $418,000

Health and human services for individuals with disabilities, people of color, low-income, and former offenders.

Pine Technical and Community College, Pine City, $300,000

Healthcare and manufacturing training to serve people of color and low-income individuals that lead to post-secondary credits and credentials.

Project for Pride in Living, Minneapolis, $625,000

IT, business services and public sector training to serve people of color, low-income, and individuals with criminal backgrounds.

Ramsey County Workforce Solutions, Saint Paul, $600,000

Healthcare and public sector training for individuals with low income and low basic skills.

Roseville Adult Learning Center, SD 623, Roseville, $200,000

Construction and manufacturing training program to serve individuals with multiple barriers to employment.

Rural Minnesota CEP, Inc., Detroit Lakes, $550,000

Healthcare and manufacturing training serving targeted populations in Greater Minnesota, including immigrants and New Americans from Africa.

Saint Paul Police Department, Saint Paul, $491,508

Law enforcement training program to serve low-income unemployed and underemployed people of color from Saint Paul.

Saint Paul Public Schools, Saint Paul, $250,000

Building maintenance and business services training to serve immigrants and refugees with limited English proficiency.

South Central College, Faribault and North Mankato, $200,000

Healthcare and manufacturing training to serve people of color and individuals with low incomes and low basic skills in Rice, Scott, and Waseca counties.

Southeast Asian Refugee Community Home, Minneapolis, $200,000

In-demand manufacturing training to serve Hmong and Somali populations.

Summit Academy, Minneapolis, $550,000

Construction, healthcare and business services training serving communities of color.

SW Private Industry Council, Marshall, $550,000

Healthcare, manufacturing and transportation training to serve English language learners with low academic skills in Southwest Minnesota.

ThinkSelf, Inc., Saint Paul, $200,000

Healthcare and digital technology training programs serving the disability population in Saint Paul, Duluth, Moorhead, Rochester and St. Cloud.

Twin Cities Rise, Minneapolis and Saint Paul, $95,000

Construction program focused on training people of color in North Minneapolis.

Ujamaa Place, Saint Paul, $300,000

Construction, IT, automotive, filmmaking and business training programs targeting young African American men in the Metro Area with barriers to employment.

Vietnamese Social Services of Minnesota, Saint Paul, $250,000

Construction training program focused on serving Southeast Asians, Somalis, and other immigrants and refugees.

Washington County WorkForce Center, Woodbury, $160,000

Business and technical services training serving people of color, individuals who are 200 percent below the poverty guideline, have a disability or are long-term unemployed.

Workforce Development Inc., Rochester, $975,000

Construction and public sector training programs will focus on serving minorities, women, and those with barriers to employment in Southeast Minnesota. A manufacturing program will serve former offenders.

DEED is the state’s principal economic development agency, promoting business recruitment, expansion and retention, workforce development, international trade and community development. For more details about the agency and its services, visit the DEED website or follow DEED on Twitter.