SF5033

Purpose

• The bill would provide a grant of 250,000 from Minnesota’s workforce development fund to support a workforce development training program for Minnesota residents. The program is run by the Organization of Liberians in Minnesota (OLM) and targets prioritizing Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities and Liberian residents, focusing on health care and industrial trades.

Main Provisions

• Administration and coordination
  • OLM would serve as the lead administrator, coordinating with accredited training providers, community colleges, employers, and government partners to deliver sector-focused training and help learners earn credentials.
• Use of funds
  • Money can be used for participant stipends, tuition fees, training materials, equipment, credentialing exams, and supportive services such as transportation and child care.
• Program outcomes
  • The program aims for credential attainment and job placement within six months of program completion.
  • Annual progress reports must be prepared detailing enrollment, credentials earned, and job placements.

Funding and Timing

• The appropriation amounts and years
  • The bill states 250,000 in fiscal year 2027 for the grant to OLM.
  • The baseline (base) for this appropriation is 250,000 in fiscal year 2028 and 0 in fiscal year 2029.
• Overall effect
  • Establishes a new targeted grant program under the state’s workforce development framework to support training in health care and industrial trades for specific communities.

Significance and Changes to Law

• What changes
  • Creates a new funding stream and program administered by OLM to expand workforce development efforts for Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities and Liberian residents.
  • Sets expectations for coordination with training providers and for measurable reporting on enrollment, credentials, and placements.
• Policy intent
  • Broadly aims to improve credential attainment and employment in targeted sectors for residents in Minnesota, with built-in supports to reduce barriers to participation.

Implementation Considerations

• Oversight and reporting
  • Requires annual progress reports to monitor program performance.
• Potential implementation questions
  • How the funds are allocated across providers and regions.
  • How the six-month credential and placement goal is measured (e.g., what counts as placement).

Relevant Terms - workforce development fund - Commission­er of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) - Organization of Liberians in Minnesota (OLM) - grant - sector-focused training - credential attainment - job placement - Black Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) - Liberian residents - health care trades - industrial trades - accredited training providers - community colleges - employers - government partners - participant stipends - tuition fees - training materials - equipment - credentialing exams - supportive services - transportation - child care - annual progress reports