Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to fund and expand workforce development training in Minnesota, specifically in the fields of information technology, transportation, and healthcare. By doing so, it seeks to address workforce shortages in these critical areas.

Main Provisions

• Funding: The bill allocates $2 million annually for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to support the Gateways2Growth Initiative. The funding is provided to the Center for African Immigrants and Refugees Organization (CAIRO).

• Training Programs:

  • Information Technology: Expands access to training in full-stack development, cybersecurity, and business analysis. Collaborates with employers for hiring and paid internships.
  • Commercial Driver's License (CDL): Increases training opportunities to address Minnesota’s transportation and logistics shortage. Partners with trucking companies for job placements and apprenticeships.
  • Healthcare: Focuses on training certified nursing assistants, phlebotomists, pharmacy technicians, and other essential healthcare professionals. Collaborates with healthcare providers for job placement, credentialing, and licensure.

• Program Allocation: The initiative will distribute funds equally between programs inside and outside the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Priority is given to historically underserved communities, individuals seeking reskilling due to economic displacement, and underemployed individuals aiming to enter fields with strong career growth potential.

Significant Changes

• Focus on Underserved Communities: The bill emphasizes providing resources and opportunities to immigrants, refugees, rural populations, and other historically underserved groups.

• Reporting Requirements: CAIRO, in collaboration with the commissioner of employment and economic development, is required to submit an annual report detailing participant enrollment in training sectors, employment outcomes, wage growth, regional distribution of participants, and recommendations for program expansion.

• Outcome Measurement and Transparency: The initiative includes metrics for success such as total graduates placed into full-time employment, average wage growth, retention rates in targeted professions, and reduction in workforce shortages.

Relevant Terms

• Workforce Development
• Gateways2Growth Initiative
• Information Technology Training
• Commercial Driver's License Training
• Healthcare Workforce Development
• Underserved Communities
• Immigrants and Refugees
• Economic Displacement
• Twin Cities Metropolitan Area