DEED Growing Opportunity Program

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development has announced seven local partners for the $2.4 million Growing Careers initiative.

The partners will develop agriculture-focused workforce training programs to increase the number of new and emerging farmers and farm businesses.

Workforce Development Inc. (Rochester), will recieve $500,000 to create the Growing Opportunity program in Southeast Minnesota, a comprehensive career pathway program focusing on agriculture.

Participants will be enrolled into programs at local Minnesota State colleges and the 160 Driving Academy.

Each client will be able to choose the specific agricultural training programs that best suit their needs in any of the offices in Workforce Development Inc.’s 10-county service area, which includes Goodhue and Wabasha Counties.

They have offices in Red Wing and Wabasha.