FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Jan. 3, 2019

CONTACT:  Ling Becker at 651-485-9532 or [email protected]

Five partnerships have each been awarded $95,000 Youth Skills Training (YST) grants to develop and implement paid-learning opportunities for students 16 years of age and older.

The grants are part of a Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (YST@DLI) program, which was signed into law in 2017 with bipartisan support, to create and provide employment training for student learners ages 16 and older in high-growth, high-demand occupations.

“These grants allow high schools, businesses and community organizations to work together to train students and create skilled workers for their communities,” said Ken Peterson, DLI commissioner.

The VHEDC program called the NE Metro Manufacturing Education (NEME) Partnership will include White Bear Lake Area Schools, Mounds View Area Schools, Roseville Area Schools, Maplewood/North St. Paul/Oakdale Area Schools, and AFSA High School. Area manufacturers and Ramsey County are key partners in the program. The program provides hands-on learning in manufacturing businesses for students under 18 years of age. For the past two summers, the VHEDC has successfully led the GenZ Connections: Skills and Careers in Manufacturing Program. The new NEME Partnership will have added components but follow a similar framework of experience. The grant will allow VHEDC to expand to surrounding school districts, partner with more industry partners, and to provide experiences to dozens of more students.

Other grant recipients include:

  • ISD 728 serving the communities of Elk River, Otsego, Rogers and Zimmerman
  • ISD 831 Forest Lake Area Schools
  • ISD 287 Pathways to College
  • Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council

Grants can be used to create programs, recruit students and employers, provide training, transport students and pay for student certifications.

Thirty-three local partnerships throughout the state applied for this second round of grants. These partnerships involve more than 79 school districts and more than 160 employers in five different industries. A third round of grant applications will open in fall 2019.

About VHEDC: The VHEDC is a private non-profit organization made up of investing businesses since 1984. Its mission is to enhance economic development in the City of Vadnais Heights and the surrounding areas through the attraction, retention and expansion of existing businesses and industries. This will be accomplished by serving as a conduit of economic development resources, building collaborations with strategic partners, and providing advocacy.  For more information about the VHEDC, contact Executive Director Ling Becker at 651-485-9532 or [email protected].

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