St. Paul, MN – Today, 71 Minnesotans graduated from the second cohort of the Xcel Energy Power Up Program, a public-private partnership with the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) and community-based organizations to provide training for energy- or construction-related jobs or union apprenticeships.

The graduates went through a multi-month, two-part training program that prepared them for family-sustaining wages in energy-related and construction trades careers. Xcel Energy's $4 million investment covered case management, training, support services, tools, work boots and union apprenticeship entrance fees for program participants.

Building Strong Communities provided the pre-apprenticeship training, with supportive and other services provided by Avivo, Career Solutions, Central Minnesota Jobs and Training Services, Inc., EMERGE Community Development, Native Sun Community Power Development and Summit Academy OIC. Over two years, a total of 132 Minnesotans completed the Power Up program.

"The Power Up Program shows how the right training prepares people to begin work on a strong career path right away. Public-private partnerships are a time-tested way to ensure we are preparing people with the right skills for in-demand jobs," said DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek. "We are proud to have partnered with Xcel Energy and Minnesota training providers to make this program a success."

"Our support for the Power Up program has helped bolster Minnesota's skilled workforce building the infrastructure we need to deliver safe, reliable and resilient energy to power the state's economic future," said Xcel Energy Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Patricia Correa. "Power Up has been an opportunity to broaden participation in our energy future, a goal we share with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, DEED and other stakeholders. We've delivered energy to customers here for more than 100 years. We live and work in our communities, and we want to see them thrive."

"I'm proud to put on my work boots every day, take on a new set of challenges and help build America," said Nicole Manderscheid, who was one of 61 Power Up students who graduated last May. Nicole started work as an Ironworkers Local #512 union apprentice last summer and is now helping to build the new Meta data center in Rosemount. "The Power Up Program was a good experience. It helped me embark on a new career."

The 71 Power Up program participants are among 111 students who graduated from Building Strong Communities' workforce training programs on Friday.

"This graduating class—the largest in Building Strong Communities' history—is a testament to what's possible when we invest in people and partnerships," said Executive Director of Building Strong Communities Rick Martagon. "With 111 graduates, including many supported through the Power Up Program, we're helping Minnesotans take the first step toward lifelong careers in the union trades and energy sector. These are the builders of tomorrow's Minnesota — equipped with the skills, training and confidence to succeed."

Building Strong Communities provided apprenticeship preparatory training for the Xcel Energy Power Up Program and is working to place students into registered apprenticeships in construction trades. The other six community-based organizations played a vital role in recruitment, workforce readiness and student support services. Today's graduation ceremony took place at North Hennepin Community College in Brooklyn Park, which also provided some of the training for the program.

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 how DEED delivers for Minnesota, visit the DEED website. View thousands of job postings from throughout Minnesota, get free job search assistance and find out about no-cost training opportunities at CareerForceMN.com.

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) provides the energy that powers millions of homes and businesses across eight Western and Midwestern states. Headquartered in Minneapolis, the company is an industry leader in responsibly reducing carbon emissions and producing and delivering clean energy solutions from a variety of renewable sources at competitive prices. For more information, visit xcelenergy.com or follow us on X and Facebook.