[ST. PAUL, MN] – Governor Tim Walz today visited Duluth as part of his statewide workforce tour. He spent a day in the life as a police officer – one of the career fields experiencing a labor shortage in Minnesota. Minnesota is investing millions in job training and workforce development to fill high-growth, high-demand jobs across the state, including in manufacturing, public safety, technology, caring professions, and education. Photos from the event are attached.

“Law enforcement and public safety professionals are integral to every community,” said Governor Walz. “Minnesota needs more public servants who are dedicated to the safety and wellbeing of their community. Through training grants and $300 million for public safety departments across the state, we’re helping communities train the firefighters, police officers, EMTs, and 911 dispatchers who we rely on to keep us all safe.”

There are 23,357 public safety jobs across Minnesota – including police officers, fire fighters, and 911 operators.

This session, Governor Walz signed into law $300 million for cities, counties, and tribes to meet their unique public safety, fire, or emergency management needs, including for training programs. The state also invested $5 million in a grant program to support peace officer education and training. Local law enforcement agencies can use the grants to pay the cost of education and training for peace officer candidates.

This week, Governor Walz visited Buhler, a food equipment manufacturing company in Plymouth, to kick off a statewide workforce tour and spend a day in the life with manufacturing professionals. On Wednesday he spent the day as a fourth-grade teacher in Savage.