Apr. 14 - MJSP Grant For Northern Star Company Employees

ST. PAUL – The state Department of Employment and Economic Development’s Minnesota Job Skills Partnership Program (MJSP) announced a $287,112 grant to support training for 257 employees of Northern Star Company, located in Chaska. The two-year training collaboration includes MJSP, Northern Star Co. and Dakota County Technical College (DCTC).

Northern Star Co. is a subsidiary of Minnetonka-based Michael Foods, Inc., a leading food processor and distributor with business in egg products, refrigerated grocery and potato products.

Northern Star Co. is investing more than $57 million to redesign production lines, purchase new equipment, install new technology to improve safety and efficiency and train employees at their new potato-processing plant in Chaska. The new plant will employ about 257 employees.

The company and DCTC will collaborate to develop an onsite training program to accommodate all shifts and include courses in Industrial Electricity, Electrical Controls and Apparatus and System Troubleshooting. Coaches from DCTC will work with Northern Star line leads and company trainers to help transfer knowledge and train production floor employees.

“Northern Star Company will see improved production and maintenance systems, and their employees will gain significant food production, manufacturing and equipment maintenance skills, as a result of this partnership,” said DEED Commissioner and MJSP Board Chair Dan McElroy. “In addition, DCTC will develop a new certification for food operators.”

For more information on the grant, contact Larry Raddatz, director of manufacturing and railroad, Dakota County Technical College, 651-423-8276, or e-mail larry.raddatz@dctc.edu .

The MJSP offers technical, financial and job training assistance to businesses, communities, educational institutions and workers. The board brings businesses with specific education needs together with educational institutions to design customized training programs.

DEED is the state’s principal economic development agency, promoting business recruitment, expansion and retention, workforce development, international trade and community development. For more details about the agency and our services, visit us at www.PositivelyMinnesota.com. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/PositivelyMN.

Upon request, the information in this news release is available in an alternative format such as Braille, large print, audiotape or computer disk.

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
Communications Office
Phone 651/259-7161 or 1-800-657-3858 ∙ TTY 1-800-657-3973
www.PositivelyMinnesota.com