LETTER: REP. HANCOCK WORKING HARD ON WORKFORCE SHORTAGE ISSUE

To the Editor,

Recently the Minnesota House Greater Minnesota Economic and Workforce Development Policy Committee visited Bemidji and Park Rapids to learn about issues that local businesses, government officials and economic leaders are facing in northwestern Minnesota and hear how our committee could potentially help solve these problems.

Through a tour of Lamb Weston/RDO Frozen and two economic roundtables, we heard the same message that is being delivered throughout rural Minnesota: quality, good-paying jobs are available, but they are going unfilled due to a skilled workforce shortage.

Area residents should be pleased that State Representative Dave Hancock is working hard to solve this issue. Next session, our committee will begin addressing this topic by exploring ways to encourage students to pursue technology degrees, develop training programs with schools and colleges, and create incentives for existing workers to retrain for needed positions. As a committee member, his input and expertise towards this mission will be invaluable.

My thanks to the area leaders who met with our committee recently, and to Representative Hancock not only for the invitation to visit your communities, but also for his leadership on tackling the challenges facing Greater Minnesota.

Sincerely,

State Representative Bob Gunther, FairmontChair, Minnesota House Greater Minnesota Economic and Workforce Development Policy Committee