Educational Institution

The Occupational Development Center, Inc. (ODC) operates division offices in nine northern MN locations and provides vocational services and job opportunities for individuals with disabilities and other employment barriers. To remain competitive, ODC administrators realize the need to expand services and incorporate best practices into their operations. This project will train 262 current employees and 26 new hires on the concepts of Lean/Six Sigma, project management and strategic planning. The project will result in improved employee skills, enhancement of supervisory and management skills and increased overall marketability of ODC and its employees. Wages range from $6.81/hr. for Level I, Custom Products to $23.08/hr. for Level 5, Custom Products.

Minnesota Diversified Industries (MDI) provides disabled and disadvantaged individuals with training, rehabilitation and job opportunities at its three facilities located in Grand Rapids, Hibbing and St. Paul. This diverse workforce provides assembly, packaging and plastic manufacturing services to customers worldwide. This project is designed to train 541 MDI employees in the Lean Manufacturing process resulting in improved production and financial capabilities within the three companies, as well as increased self-sufficiency of the employees. Wages range from $6.52/hr. for Hand Assemblers to $64.90/hr. for Vice President of Operations.

Partnership

This grant will provide 209 job/career development counselors with training leading to certification as a Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF). In addition, continuing education topics will be offered to help meet the 75-hour requirement for GCDF recertification, which is required every five years. Wages for job counselors employed by the non-profit consortium agencies represented in this proposal range from $13.66/hr. to $16.50/hr.

Partnership

Winona Health is comprised of several health care facilities in southern Minnesota. It is the alpha site for an emerging integrated Electronic Medical Record (EMR) information system established to improve efficiencies and lower costs. This project will apply Lean process improvement techniques along with the EMR system in an effort to decrease non-value added steps. The three-phase plan will train 875 employees; the last phase involves 52 trained employees instructing their remaining colleagues using a train-the-trainer approach. This project will be the first step in developing a Center for Healthcare Innovation that incorporates new and emerging ideas directed toward reinventing an affordable, effective healthcare system. Wages range from $9.69/hr. for Environmental Services to $30.90/hr. For Managers/Supervisors.

Partnership

Woodwinds Health Campus (WHC), Woodbury, opened its state of the art facility in August, 2000 and is nationally/internationally recognized for exceptional innovations in patient care. Through this project, 410 individuals will receive training in Lean Flow methodology with the goal of improving quality and reducing costs by eliminating wasteful activities. Steadily rising costs of health care will be positively impacted as institutions become more efficient by incorporating Lean Flow systems. Wages range from $14.00/hr. for Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aides to $105/hr. for Physicians.

Pathways

Packaging First, a division of Lifetrack Resources, provides packaging/assembly services for businesses while providing training and transitional employment for persons with disabilities and other challenges to employment. Through this grant, 360 high-risk individuals will receive manufacturing skills standards and soft skills instruction followed by “hands on” work experience. Graduates will receive on-going career development and job placement into permanent positions through an established network of manufacturing employers. Wages range from $6.00/hr. for Assembly/Packaging to $23.00/hr. for Technical Production.

Thern, Inc. is a privately held, family owned company in Winona that supplies material handling equipment, including winches and cranes, to commercial markets, both nationally and internationally. This project will provide training for 100 employees in the area of soft skills, technical skills and lean manufacturing. The training is part of their strategic plan to expand their product offerings, improve productivity and increase profits. In addition, the company plans to add 29 new jobs. Wages range from $13.36/hr. for production workers to $22.40/hr. for managers and supervisors.

Heartland CAA serves the counties of Meeker, McLeod, Renville and Kandiyohi. It’s mission is to eliminate poverty and advocate for low income households. In this four-county area, there is a growing demand for computer-skilled workers to fill jobs in clerical and administrative support fields. This grant will provide computer skills courses for 45 low-income individuals which will qualify them for these jobs. The training may also encourage individuals to continue their education to further advance their careers. Entry-level clerical/administrative support positions pay between $9.00-$11.00 per hour.

There is a strong job market for individuals with welding skills in Central MN, specifically, the four-county area of Renville, McLeod, Meeker and Kandiyohi. This project will train 56 individuals in basic welding through MN West CTC’s Mobile Welding Lab which will prepare them for good paying jobs as production welders. Wages for welding occupations in Central MN range from $11.00 to $15.00 per hour.

Basic Welding instruction will be delivered to 42 unemployed participants using MN West CTC’s Mobile Welding Lab. Upon certification, these individuals will be qualified for production welder positions in South Central Minnesota - a region with a strong job market for individuals with these skills. Wages for welding occupations in this area average from $11.25 to $15.50 per hour.

This project will offer customized instruction in Customer Service and Business Computer Skills for 112 unemployed/low-wage incumbent workers who have limited English, education and work experience. The project is designed to provide a career path by including core components for all trainees as well as Master Certificate level training for those seeking higher skills positions. Strong linkages with area employers, educational and support services agencies ensures the trainees’ successful transition to employment. Wages for the targeted occupations range from $8.00-$14.00 per hour.

Employment Action Center offers programs designed to increase self-sufficiency and stability of low-income individuals at 17 Twin Cities metro area sites. This project will provide training in computer skills, office careers and maintenance/custodial skills for 47 individuals. These occupational fields hold high job vacancies and career advancement opportunities in the Twin Cities area. In addition, extensive support services will be offered to ensure training success. The targeted employment positions pay from $10.00 to $11.96 per hour.

The four colleges and Pine Tech ETC will work with the Communities Investing in Families and the McKnight Foundation Families Forward Program to move families out of poverty. The targeted population is underemployed with incomes below the 200% of poverty level. This grant will provide career planning and tuition assistance to 50 individuals who are seeking career advancement through education in a variety of health industry and professional careers. Wages in the targeted health industry range from $11.44 to $27.10 per hour.

Duluth, MN has developed into a regional center for health care, thus there is a high demand for qualified health care workers. This grant will serve 50 Duluth area Public Housing residents who are deemed ready and motivated for training which will prepare them for career opportunities in the growing health care industry. Over half of the targeted training population is currently unemployed. Wages for health care workers range from $8.23 to $11.49 per hour with opportunities for career advancement.

The African Assistance Program serves African immigrants and refugees through a variety of services including job development and cross-cultural training. This grant will support nursing assistant, administrative assistant, automotive and banking skills training for 19 minorities, 73% of whom are unemployed. This training will give this under-represented population the opportunity for higher paying jobs that will enhance the diversity of the workforce. Starting wages range from $9.00/hr. for Nursing Assistants to $16.00/hr. for PC Support Specialists and Programmers.

West Central Minnesota’s fast growing manufacturing industry is in demand of qualified, skilled individuals to fill available jobs. This project will offer manufacturing skills training for 60 unemployed and low-income incumbent workers, which will give them the opportunity to pursue employment or advance in current positions. The average wage for entry-level manufacturing jobs is $12.50 per hour.

This project will benefit very low-income, at risk individuals residing in rural northern Minnesota, including three American Indian Reservations. Manufacturing and leisure/hospitality curriculum will be offered to 180 participants leading to immediate placement in jobs that offer medical benefits, retirement and career advancement opportunities. On-the-job training and support of instructors and employers ensures a smooth transition into jobs that offer livable wages. The salary for the targeted occupations averages $11.30 per hour.

Lifetrack Resources is one of the largest private, non-profit providers of employment services in Minnesota. In response to the expressed needs of employers, this project will provide training in community health work, warehousing and distribution and nursing assistant for 135 individuals. This training will result in immediate qualification for good jobs with advancement opportunities. Sixty percent of the trainee population are minorities, 16% are disabled, 57% are female and 100% are currently unemployed. Wages range from $8.00-$12.00 per hour for Community Health Workers and Nursing Assistants. Warehousing and distribution wages range from $9.00-$15.00 per hour.

Goodwill Easter Seals has strong ties to the business community and has an excellent reputation for their efforts in assisting people with barriers to education, employment and independence in achieving their goals. This project will train 182 unemployed/underemployed individuals in Auto, Bank, Construction and Customer Service programs. Job placement and retention support services will also be offered to help trainees secure employment in positions with god pay and the opportunity for career advancement. Entry-level wages range from $9.04 to $11.53 per hour for the targeted occupations.

Tree Trust is a nationally recognized, non-profit corporation that offers training and employment experience to low income, at risk adults and youth. This project will allow Tree Trust to provide an intensive, six-month paid work experience to 24 unemployed young adults with multiple barriers to employment. Work and training includes landscape construction, lawn maintenance and tree trimming and will qualify them for permanent jobs in a related field (nurseries, lawn maintenance, landscape). Selected individuals may be hired by Tree Trust as crew leaders. Wages in the targeted occupational area range from $11.42 to $13.49 per hour.

The International Institute of Minnesota (IIM) offers a variety of education and employment services to immigrants and refugees. Their nationally-recognized Medical Careers for New Americans Program provides employment opportunities in entry and professional-level positions within the medical field. This project will train 28 low-income new Americans for a variety of health careers. An intensive screening process along with academic and emotional support ensures successful program completion, followed by employment assistance and referrals. Wages range from $10.80 to $23.00 per hour for the targeted occupations.

Northwest Indian OIC is the only tax exempt, non-profit, American Indian controlled organization providing employment and training services to American Indians living off reservations in rural Minnesota. Recognizing the importance of training individuals for careers and jobs which exist within the community, this project was designed to train 90 unemployed American Indians as Environmental Technicians, Food Service Technicians and Certified Nursing Assistants. All completed training will result in a Certificate and/or License. Wages range from $9.00/hr. for Environmental/Food Technicians to $10.25/hr. for Certified Nursing Assistants.

Minneapolis Employment and Training Program contracts with community-based agencies which provide employment and training services to a diverse population - over 50% being immigrants and refugees. This grant will provide training for 40 diverse individuals, giving them the opportunity to become certified to work as instrument technicians, case cart technicians, or community health workers. Wages for the targeted health care positions range between $10.50 to $16.00 per hour.

Opportunity Partners has been in operation for over 50 years, providing client-centered employment, housing and education services to people with disabilities. Services are provided to clients in 31 separate facilities, as well as hundreds of job sites and private residences through the greater Twin Cities metro area. Through this grant, 170 Opportunity Partners trainers, managers and professional staff will be educated to utilize a new client-centered case management system. This new system is relevant to the industry in that it is accessible from multiple locations and allows organizations to track and report outcomes more efficiently. Trainee wages are at a weighted average of $19.87 per hour.

Neilson Place is a non-profit skilled nursing facility in Bemidji, MN. This project will train 203 employees on the “Social Model” of care. As a result of this training, all employees will work together toward the Social Model of providing quality care to seniors which will ultimately lower training costs, reduce turnover of direct care staff and improve quality of care through staff continuity. In addition, the curriculum will be transferrable to other health institutions. Wage rates are equivalent to a weighted average of $15.16 per hour.

CUNO Engineered Products is a world leader in the development of water purification systems. In this highly competitive industry it is crucial to keep costs down, thereby lessen the chance for production to be done off-shore. Through this project, Six Sigma training will be offered to 40 selected employees (supervisors, engineers and lead workers) leading to a Six Sigma Green Belt Standard Certification. Training will be customized using actual work-based examples from each department. Wages are at a weighted average of $18.63 per hour.

Incisive Surgical is an emerging company that is releasing its first product to the marketplace - the INSORB 20 will provide a new option for doctors closing surgery incisions. The market for this type of product is large and expected to increase considerably in the future. Company-wide training is needed to respond to ongoing business challenges and foster growth. This project will provide 20 employees with a customized Six Sigma training which will enable them to increase their manufacturing capacity and ensure the company’s ongoing success. Wage rates are Incisive Surgical are equivalent to a weighted average of $28.40 per hour.