The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has announced 19 workforce development grants totaling over $2.9 million to eight Minnesota educational institutions that are partnering with Minnesota businesses to develop and deliver customized workforce training programs.
Grants include $399,827 to Minnesota State College Southeast for partnership with 3M Fall Protection, Ardent Mills, Food Service Specialties, Gemini, Hearth & Home Technologies, Intek Plastics and Red Wing Shoes.
The seven partnering Red Wing-area manufacturing companies identified a common need for advanced mechatronics and automation training as their operations incorporate more automation and robotics technologies.
MSC Southeast will build upon its existing foundational mechatronics program with advanced curriculum to develop a new, 20-credit Automation Essentials Certificate program, a nine-credit Computer Aided Drafting Technologies Certificate program and a three-credit welding course for 71 employees.
Grantees expect to train more than 4,000 workers through these programs.