SF1985

Purpose

• The bill would provide two-year funding to support workforce development efforts in Minnesota.
• Specifically, it would allocate $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2027 from the Workforce Development Fund to the Commissioner of Employment and Economic Development.
• The funds are for a grant to Summit Academy OIC. The goals are to expand student enrollment, employment placement, and program access in the Twin Cities and across Minnesota; expand GED preparation and administration; expand STEM programming; start and enroll students in a dental assistant program; and work with employers to place students after they complete the program.

Main Provisions

• Section 1: Authorization of a grant totaling $4,000,000 over two years ($2,000,000 in 2026 and $2,000,000 in 2027).
• Source of funds: Workforce Development Fund.
• Recipient: Summit Academy OIC, with administration by the Commissioner of Employment and Economic Development.
• Program focus: increase GED preparation and administration, broaden STEM programming, establish a dental assistant program, and facilitate job placements with employers upon program completion.
• Geographic focus: Twin Cities area and statewide in Minnesota.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• The bill primarily creates a new appropriation for Summit Academy OIC; it does not specify changes to existing programs or statutes beyond providing this funding.

Fiscal Impact

• Total appropriation: $4,000,000 over two fiscal years (FY2026 and FY2027).
• Source: Workforce Development Fund.
• Use: grant to Summit Academy OIC to support education, training, and placement activities.

Beneficiaries and Effects

• Beneficiaries: Summit Academy OIC, participating students, and employers that hire program graduates.
• Effects: expanded access to GED, STEM education, and a dental assistant program; improved pathways to employment for program graduates.

Implementation Overview

• The Commissioner of Employment and Economic Development would administer the grant to Summit Academy OIC and oversee the stated program activities.

Potential Oversight or Questions (not specified in text)

• Specific grant requirements, performance metrics, and reporting requirements are not detailed in the summary and would be determined by the administering agency.

Relevant Terms workforce development fund, commissioner of employment and economic development, Summit Academy OIC, grant, GED, general educational development, STEM programming, dental assistant program, employment placement, Twin Cities, Minnesota, fiscal year 2026, fiscal year 2027, appropriation.