July 16 - DEED Funds Three Training Programs for PPL

ST. PAUL – The state Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced a $95,104 Low Income Worker Training Program grant to help train 100 people enrolled in three programs sponsored by Project for Pride in Living (PPL).

PPL is a Minneapolis-based nonprofit agency that helps lower-income people and families in the Twin Cities achieve self-sufficiency through housing, employment training, education and support services.

Under the grant, 30 people with Minnesota certification and at least one year of professional experience will participate in a 120-hour advancement for certified nursing program, while 30 people will be enrolled in the medical clerical program. In addition, 40 people will take three weeks of training in banking/finance and soft skills. The three courses will also include resume and interview preparation, employment coaching, job placement and retention services.

The Low Income Worker Training Program was launched in 2005 within DEED’s Minnesota Job Skills Partnership (MJSP). The program helps people with incomes at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty line to learn additional skills that enable them to move up the career ladder to higher-paying jobs.

“These training initiatives are targeted at people who need additional skills to advance their careers,” said Dan McElroy, DEED commissioner and MJSP board chair. “The grant also enables Project for Pride in Living to develop additional partnerships and add value to the local business and medical communities.”

 For more information on the grant, contact PPL Director of Employment Training Tina Platt Wombacher, 612-455-5309, or e-mail tina.wombacher@ppl-inc.org.   

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