Educational Institution

This grant will provide an opportunity for a successful, growth oriented Coon Rapids, Minnesota company, to respond to rapidly growing customer demand for customized garage doors. The company has invested considerable resources into a new production process and has applied for a patent for new technology to be implemented in July 2006. Courses include New Technologies, Hydraulic and Pneumatic Equipment, Job Shop Lean, and Metallurgy. ARCC will collaborate with Ridgewater College to add metallurgy to their curriculum. The skills and expertise of 80 current employees and 28 new hires will be upgraded to meet new design needs and enable Industrial Door and Industrial Spring to achieve their goals.

Local Contact: Jess Niebuhr, Director, Continuing Education/Customized Training, 763-422-3414.
 

ev3 is a new but rapidly growing multimillion-dollar medical device company with facilities in Brooklyn Park, New Hope and Plymouth, Minnesota. ev3 will train its’ current workforce of 376 employees plus 124 new employees over the next three years. This project focuses on improving profitability and productivity through enhanced risk management planning and skill building in the areas of design, development, research, sales, and production technology. Eight new courses will be developed, expanding ARCC’s biomedical programs with many of the courses incorporated into a new credit certificate program that can be used towards an Associate of Science Degree.

Local Contact: Jess Niebuhr, Director, Continuing Education/Customized Training, 763-422-3414.
 

Partnership

rms, located in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, has a workforce of 450 employees specializing in precision-machined implantable medical components for medical device companies worldwide. With the continued growth of Minnesota’s biomedical industry, the company anticipates adding 307 new employees in the next three years. Highly skilled machinists are needed to perform in the unique environment specific to both rms and to the medical device industry. In order to meet the demand for these machinists, ARCC, in collaboration with Hennepin TC and Alexandria College, will establish a “rms University” certification program offering Machining I, II and III, Inspection and Quality Control, Work Procedures and Standards, and Train-the-Trainer. Several new curriculum offerings will be added to ARCC’s already extensive list of biomedical-related courses, including three levels of machining. A total of 605 employees will receive the training that will improve productivity, reduce costs, increase promotional opportunities, and help the long-term development of the company.

Local Contact: Jess Niebuhr, Director, Continuing Education/Customized Training, 763-422-3414.
 

Partnership

This project will address a vision set forth by the American Physical Therapy Association that by 2020 physical therapy services will be provided by physical therapists with clinical doctorates allowing for autonomous practice within the profession. CSC will modify its existing transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy degree program (t-DPT) to accommodate individuals with Masters degrees who are not alumnae of CSC. Additionally, they will develop a new t-DPT program for individuals who hold a Bachelor’s level degree in physical therapy. These programs will allow physical therapists to upgrade their credentials in order to meet the goals set forth by the Association. Providing patients direct access to a physical therapist without the initial physician’s referral is expected to decrease the cost of healthcare. In addition, this project will assist Fairview in their need to retain talented physical therapists at a time when they are facing a shortage of physical therapists.

Local Contact: Margaret McLaughlin, Dean of Health Professions, 651-690-7702.
 

Partnership

Aaron Carlson is Minnesota’s largest employer of customer woodworkers with 125 employees. Walsh Bishop is a 65-person architectural firm in Minneapolis. Both companies design and sell highly customized services and products and compete by meeting the quality, speed, price, and innovation requirements of their customers. Through this grant, 222 employees will be trained on Agile Enterprise, the next generation of Lean process improvement. Trainees will receive certificates in the areas of Agile Enterprise, Agile Lean Manufacturing and Agile Lean Design. This project will meet the needs of these high-variety, low volume companies through improved processes in customized design and manufacturing.

Local Contact: Brenda Dickinson, Dean, Continuing Education, 952-487-8238.
 

Partnership

Northern Natural Gas (NNG) operates an interstate natural gas pipeline extending from the Permian Basin in Texas to the upper Midwest. The company currently employs 109 people in high wage jobs at nine staffed locations throughout the state of Minnesota. They plan to hire 26 new employees during the three-year project period. This grant addresses the impending labor and skill shortage in the country’s increasingly important energy industry. The development of a “Continuity Plan” will use a blended learning approach combining classroom and web-based instruction in four training levels. The curriculum, specifically geared to the needs of the energy sector with a focus on energy technician skill sets do not currently exist. The training will ensure that future workforce and energy needs are met by building and maintaining advanced technical knowledge for new and incumbent workers of Northern Natural Gas.

Local Contact: Chad Coauette, Dean of Customized Training, 320-762-4403.
 

Twin City Die Castings Company (TCDC), located in Monticello, MN provides die-casting services for a wide variety of industries. The company is one of only 15 remaining U.S. companies doing aluminum and magnesium die-casting. To remain viable in this tremendously competitive market, they must further elevate their technology and automation processes and train their employees on new equipment processes and complex robotics. This project will involve the development of a “Harmonized Manufacturing Certificate”, blending process improvement and industry standards with advanced technology and automation to prepare 206 employees with a range of new skills and greater responsibility. Curriculum and training will be developed to meet the diverse ability, English language skills and cultural backgrounds of all employees.

Local Contact: Kathy Friedrich, Business Partnerships Executive, 320-308-5066.
 

Potlatch Lumber Mill is one of the country’s oldest major forest products companies located in Bemidji, Minnesota. The company’s recent separation from the larger corporation has resulted in the need to align technology, coordinate operation and maintenance activities and efficiently utilize equipment and computer systems. Training for 90 current employees will be developed through a partnership with Bemidji State University and include access to a portable hydraulics cell simulator. Vendor training will be taped for future training of employees via DVD and the Internet. Project results include improved information management flow, reduced equipment down time, and increased business success and economic contribution.

Local Contact: Dr. David Kingsbury, Executive Director, 218-755-4900.
 

HOMARK Co. is a small, rural, employee-owned company in Red Lake Falls, MN. A workforce of about 105 employees manufacture quality customized factory-built homes that mirror most stick-built homes. Although competition has been and continues to be intense, HOMARK has made steady progress over the past several years. Worker retraining is a key element of their new business plans that calls for the construction of a new plant by 2007 and the addition of 45 new jobs. This project will result in curriculum and training for 140 employees in the area of Lean manufacturing for the manufactured housing industry. The two-phase project will develop and implement their continuous improvement plan, upgrade the skills of all existing employees and implement on-the-job training programs. This training will help HOMARK expand and meet its business goals of reducing costs while increasing markets, upgrading products and expanding its ability to customize.

Local Contact: Kathy Carney, CEO, 218-732-3622.
 

Pequot Tool & Machine is a family owned job shop located in Jenkins, MN. They provide precision CNC machining, fabrication and custom manufacturing of products produced on an order-by-order, customer specified basis. Oversees competition, a shrinking qualified employee base and rising production costs require a more knowledgeable workforce and more nimble business strategy. This project will help the company remain competitive on a global basis by meeting customer’s needs, adding new jobs and retaining and growing their employee’s skills. Training for 100 employees will increase the internal capacity of the business by enhancing core business processes and developing their current and new employees.

Local Contact: Kathy Carney, CEO, 218-732-3622.
 

This grant will enable Rockler Companies, Inc., a growing Minnesota based company, to double its size within the next seven years. This nationally recognized, women owned retailer currently employs 300 people at its Medina, MN headquarters. It plans 13 new hires in the next year. As the company grows nationwide, new jobs are created at the Medina Facility to handle the increased business. In order to continue to grow and expand, the company needs Lean and Six Sigma curriculum specific to the distribution and retail industry. This grant will fill a void in industry-specific Lean and Six Sigma curriculum. Training will be provided to 300 employees in three interrelated courses in Lean and Six Sigma methodologies relating to Rockler’s distribution and retail divisions. The development of valuable and marketable skills will serve the company’s current and long-term needs.

Local Contact: Joe Mulford, Dean, Customized Training Services, 763-550-7164.
 

This grant will assist five Minnesota horticultural companies – Linder’s, Gerten’s, Wagner’s, Bergen’s, and Bailey’s – who operate and grow products year-round. Increased difficulty in recruiting, training and retaining individuals is hampering growth and threatening the economic well being of the industry. The project will adapt a successful international training program currently operated by Communicating for Agriculture. Training for 144 individuals will include a 960-hour on-site apprenticeship, along with on-line e-learning courses in horticulture and related areas. Trainees will receive an hourly wage or stipend (and possible room and board) from the host business. Trainees who complete the training will be certified and will have the opportunity for permanent employment through the host business, another business and/or to pursue further education.

Local Contact: Richard Nelson, Associate Vice Chancellor, 218-281-8100.
 

Rebuild Resources, a non-profit organization in St. Paul, provides work opportunities for the very hard to employ – those battling alcohol/drug addictions, most of whom are recently released from prison. Rebuild is composed of three interrelated enterprises and operates five earned income businesses under its umbrella. Recipients receive 3-6 months of entry-level employment. This grant supports the “Foothold” project, which will respond to the needs of a private, nonprofit company with the mission of providing meaningful employment to this high-risk group. In collaboration with several linkage partners, Rebuild Resources and Century will offer job-specific and soft skills training, mentoring and job coaching to 310 individuals to improve their employability and transition them from dependence on public assistance to economic self-sufficiency.

Local Contact: Mary McKee, Vice President, CE/CT, 651-779-3362.
 

Educational Institution

MedSave is an independent pharmacy with 27 employees at three MN Locations – Bemidji, Duluth and New Hope. Senior citizens make up the majority of their customer base. Changes in federal Medicare language, effective November 2005, will require Medicare participants to select one of 128 provider/prescription coverage programs by May of 2006, or face penalties and a randomly assigned provider. This grant will train and certify 27 MedSave employees on Medicare Part D and related topics targeted to the needs of the elderly. As a result, MedSave will achieve its mission to be a respected and efficient pharmacy supplying both prescriptions and value added services surrounding medication administration.

Local Contact: Brad Strelow, Coordinator, 651-423-8293.
 

TEAM Industries is an engineering led organization performing machining, die-casting, assembly and product design of device train components for customers in a variety of industries. Six Minnesota plants with over 1,300 employees are located in Audubon, Detroit Lakes, Park Rapids, Baxter, Cambridge and Bagley. New technology has escalated the need for better skilled maintenance technicians. In addition to basic mechanical knowledge, TEAM-specific expertise currently takes 3-4 years of experience to acquire. This project addresses two identified skill deficient areas – electrical troubleshooting and new technology maintenance. Seventeen maintenance technicians will attend 40-hour courses to upgrade their skills and increase the capacity of the organization.

Local Contact: Mary Ryan, Director of Client Services, 218-631-7869.
 

Domaille Engineering & Valley Design

Domaille Engineering, located in Rochester, MN has a workforce of 25 employees who provide custom metal fabrication and powder coating services. Valley Designs, a metal furniture component sales company, is located in Fountain, MN and has 31 employees. Both companies are facing continued overseas competition as they attempt to rebound from the economic downturn in 2001. This grant will provide customized Lean curriculum that will provide on-site training to a total of 34 managers and production workers from both organizations. The training will provide the tools necessary to be more competitive and allow two Minnesota companies to prosper.

Local Contact: Scott Eakins, Custom Training Representative, 507-529-6136.
 

Wells Technology is a provider of precision metal machining in Bemidji, MN near the Red Lake Reservation. The unemployment rate in this area if high with few employment options on and around the reservation and lack of technical training. This grant will help to establish of a new industrial training program called New Horizons, providing knowledge and experience in precision machining. Six selected trainees will progress through a 40 hour per week, one year training program that includes multi-media productions paired with on-the-job training with assigned mentors. During training, students receive wages, based on test scores. Upon course completion, they receive a certificate and the opportunity for a rewarding career as Wells plans to hire six new employees and several other organizations have expressed interest in the graduates.

Local Contact: Kerry Ross, Training Coordinator, 218-755-4900.
 

Located in East Grand Forks, 123ID supplies software intelligence in the fingerprint algorithm market, providing one-to-many matching capacities for security products. In response to terrorism, identity theft and an overall increased need for security, multiple industries are moving toward biometric technology. 123ID’s launching of a new, patented software product, fingerprint access control/authentication, will solve identity issues, streamline access in a secure manner and reduce costs. This grant will assist in the company’s plan to aggressively promote this software product and includes targeting a new industry – online education. All 20 123ID employees will receive training that will prepare them to create marketing pieces and answer customer and technical questions.

Local Contact: Jason Spaeth, Director, 1-800-521-7463.
 

Three training institutions have formed a manufacturing-centered coalition to address common manufacturing needs through the “MSSC Certification: New Fast Track for Workforce Excellence” project. One college will take a lead role and work together with the other colleges and their industry partners, to continue their initiative to develop and deliver training around the Manufacturing Skill standards Council (MSSC) system. This unique system is built upon standards for foundational skills and knowledge – assessing and certifying individuals in their abilities in math, science, reading, communicating, problem solving, teamwork and basic technical skills – all in a manufacturing context. The 8-month pre-development grant period includes curriculum review and refining, planning meetings, developing a training model, research and marketing along with planning for a full MJSP grant application to be submitted in Spring of 2006. This project is an opportunity for Minnesota to lead the way on a national level for the validation of transferable employee skills that will influence retention, recruitment and employment expansion.

Local Contact: Chad Coauette, Dean of Customized Training, Alexandria Tech, 320-762-4403.
Local Contact: James Retka, Manufacturing Specialist, Northland, 218-683-7055.
Local Contact: Richard Kelly, Manufacturing Quality & Productivity, Hennepin Tech763-550-7217.