Scott County Employment & Training staff at the CareerForce location in Shakopee are a key part of a new initiative funded under the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development’s new Drive for 5 initiative, aimed at preparing Minnesotans for and connecting Minnesotans with high-demand employment on a path to family sustaining wages.
In March 2024, Governor Walz announced 24 training providers and 11 business and industry organizations as recipients of Drive for 5 grants to fund training and provide connections to work experience in the caring professions, education, manufacturing, technology and the trades.
One part of Minnesota where this work is underway is the southwest Twin Cities metro area with a trail-blazing partnership between Southwest Metro Intermediate School District 288, the Shakopee Area Chamber of Commerce, Dakota County Technical College and Inver Hills Community College, the Scott County Community Development Agency (CDA) and Scott County Employment & Training staff at the CareerForce location in Shakopee. This partnership and the training it’s providing is called the Career Lift Initiative.
The Career Lift Initiative assists employers looking to hire workers by bringing more people into the labor force – and it helps job seekers by preparing them with in-demand skills and connecting them with local employers in the Drive for 5 sectors. Classes have already started in several sector areas, with more training opportunities in the works for later in 2024 and early 2025.
Training programs and placement with employers includes Certified Nursing Assistant/Trained Medication Aide training through Dakota County Technical College and work experience placement at local health care facilities, CompTIA information technology certification training and work experience placement at several local employers, plus education training and work experience placement opportunities with several area school districts. In addition, Pharmacy Technician training and boiler licensing training began in September and Emergency Medical Technician training will start in the spring.
“Some of us involved in this Drive for 5-funded project have worked together in various, smaller ways in the past, but the Drive for 5 grant funding catalyzed much greater collaboration,” said Cindy Walters, Director of Career and Technical Programs Southwest Metro Intermediate School District 288. “We each bring our own strengths to this work and together we are really able to make a huge difference for local job seekers and employers.”
Intermediate School District 288 brought educational coordination to the table, Dakota County Technical College and Inver Hills Community College are able to provide training that results in certification, the Shakopee Area Chamber of Commerce and Scott County CDA are able to leverage relationships with local employers as well as experience marketing and engaging in outreach with the community – and Scott County Employment & Training staff at the Shakopee CareerForce location utilize their expertise working with job seekers to quickly enroll eligible individuals into the programs and help them start down the road to a new career.
So far, more than 200 area job seekers have expressed interest in training programs through the Career Lift Initiative that was jump started with Drive for 5 funding. Area employers are eagerly awaiting people to finish training and earn necessary certifications so they can bring them on board for in-demand work. One example is Shakopee-based St. Francis Regional Medical Center, which needs a number of positions in the health care field. Many other local employers are also involved.
“Through the Career Lift Initiative, we are providing area businesses with access to a pool of highly trained Scott County residents in high-demand occupations,” said Tim Zunker, President of the Shakopee Area Chamber of Commerce. “This partnership is not only addressing workforce shortages but also creating pathways for residents to gain the skills and opportunities needed to succeed in today's economy."
In addition to St. Francis Regional Medical Center, the Shakopee Area Chamber of Commerce has recruited the following local employers to participate in the project and provide work experience for those who successfully complete training programs: Belle Plaine Public Schools, Great Lakes Management, Jordan Public Schools, New Prague Public Schools, Rahr Corporation, Benedictine senior living and Shakopee Public Schools.
Scott County Employment & Training staff at the Shakopee CareerForce location are a lynchpin in making this program work, reviewing applications from job seekers, providing orientations, verifying eligibility, getting participants enrolled in programs, providing individualized career counseling, case management and support services, and ultimately facilitating placement with local employers
“Scott County is thrilled to be a part of this initiative. The Employment & Training unit has been providing individualized career services to the community for decades, and Career Lift has been a nice complement to existing programming,” said Scott County Economic Assistance Director Kari Ouimette. “We are fortunate to be working closely with such capable and reputable partners.”
