[ST. PAUL, MN] – Governor Tim Walz today announced the recipients of nearly $20 million in grants to grow Minnesota’s workforce through the Drive for Five Workforce initiative, a new effort to prepare more Minnesotans for high-demand jobs in five occupational categories: technology, the trades, caring professions, manufacturing, and education.

“We’re partnering with organizations across the state to expand job training programs and grow the workforce for the future,” said Governor Walz. “By investing in career training, we’re helping businesses find the skilled workers they need while helping Minnesotans find fulfilling careers and earn family-sustaining wages. This is good for our workers, our businesses, and our economy.”

The Department of Employment and Economic Development’s (DEED) Drive for Five program provides grants to workforce training and business organizations. The grant recipients will train and place an estimated 1,200 Minnesotans over the next 15 months in high-demand jobs, benefiting an estimated 3,000 Minnesota businesses.

“Today is a big day for Minnesota workers and Minnesota employers. The grantees announced today will engage together in a holistic approach that will closely align training with sector skills needs – while targeting family-sustaining, high-demand, career-path employment,” said DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek. “The breadth of the initiative’s geographic and industry reach, coupled with the depth of experience and the dedication of our partners, will provide program participants throughout the state with life-changing opportunities and help Minnesota employers hire the skilled employees they need now. It’s one of the ways DEED is delivering for Minnesota’s workers.”

The industries selected to be part of Drive for Five are projected to be high-growth in the years ahead and provide family-sustaining wages for workers, defined as having a median hourly wage at or above $19.46. Drive for Five will benefit Minnesotans who want to join the labor force in these in-demand fields and who need training and employment assistance. It will benefit Minnesota’s economy by preparing people for in-demand careers and meeting the needs of employers.

“We’re excited to announce this great slate of Drive for Five grantees. I’m looking forward to the work we’ll do together over the coming years” said DEED Deputy Commissioner for Workforce Development Marc Majors. “ Workforce training institutions that receive Drive for Five funding will launch or expand job training programs in high-growth industries that will lead to moving Minnesotans into family sustainable wage careers in caring professions, education, manufacturing, technology, and the trades.”

The Drive for Five initiative is part of a slate of historic workforce development investments at DEED. The state is investing more than $216 million in DEED’s Employment and Training Programs through June 30, 2025, including $20 million for Drive for Five and $50 million to support workforce development in historically overlooked communities through the Targeted Populations Workforce Development Programs initiative. This significant investment will help Minnesota address its ongoing tight labor market as well as achieve a more equitable economy.

Drive for Five Workforce Training Grantees, Sectors, and Regions Served:

African Community Services
$325,000
Caring Professions, Technology
Twin Cities Metro

Alexandria Technical & Community College
$750,000
Technology, Trades
Greater MN

Anoka County Job Training Center
$400,000
Caring Professions
Twin Cities Metro

Augsburg University
$240,000
Education
Twin Cities Metro

Bemidji State University/MN State Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence
$750,000
Manufacturing
Greater MN

Black Men Teach
$200,000
Education
Twin Cities Metro

Career Solutions
$700,000
Manufacturing
Greater MN

Center for African Immigrant and Refugee Organization
$400,000
Caring Professions
Greater MN

City of Duluth Workforce Development
$390,000
Education, Trades
Greater MN

Faribault Public Schools
$300,000
Caring Professions, Education
Greater MN

Hennepin Technical College
$250,000
Manufacturing
Twin Cities Metro

HIRED
$500,000
Manufacturing
Twin Cities Metro

Intermediate School District 917
$550,000
Education
Twin Cities Metro

Karen Organization of Minnesota
$500,000
Trades
Twin Cities Metro

Lutheran Social Services
$750,000
Education
Twin Cities Metro

Minnpoly
$740,000
Manufacturing
Greater MN

North Memorial Health Care
$740,000
Caring Professions
Twin Cities Metro

Otter Tail County
$250,000
Caring Professions, Manufacturing, Trades
Greater MN

Pine Tech
$725,000
Caring Professions, Manufacturing
Greater MN

Project for Pride in Living
$300,000
Caring Professions, Technology
Twin Cities Metro

Regents of the University of Minnesota
$740,000
Caring Professions
Twin Cities Metro

Rural Minnesota CEP
$750,000
Caring Professions, Manufacturing, Technology, Trades
Greater MN

Southwest Metro Intermediate District #288
$750,000
Caring Professions, Education, Technology, Trades
Twin Cities Metro

Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council
$600,000
Caring Professions, Education, Manufacturing, Technology, Trades
Greater MN

Drive for Five Job Placement and Diversity, Inclusion, & Retention Grantees and Regions Served:

Chinese American Chamber of Commerce
$300,000
Job Placement, Diversity Inclusion & Retention services
Twin Cities Metro

Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce
$145,000
Diversity, Inclusion & Retention Services
Twin Cities Metro

Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce
$190,000
Diversity, Inclusion & Retention Services
Greater MN

Greater Mankato Growth
$155,000
Job Placement, Diversity Inclusion & Retention services
Greater MN

Latino Chamber of Commerce
$300,000
Job Placement, Diversity Inclusion & Retention services
Twin Cities Metro

Marshall Chamber of Commerce
$145,000
Job Placement, Diversity Inclusion & Retention services
Greater MN

Minnesota Precision Manufacturing Association
$800,000
Job Placement, Diversity Inclusion & Retention services
Twin Cities Metro

Minnesota Technology Association
$285,000
Job Placement
Twin Cities Metro

Shakopee Area Chamber of Commerce
$450,000
Job Placement, Diversity Inclusion & Retention services
Twin Cities Metro

St. Paul Area Chamber
$800,000
Job Placement, Diversity Inclusion & Retention services
Twin Cities Metro

Twin Cities North Chamber of Commerce
$30,000
Job Placement, Diversity Inclusion & Retention services
Twin Cities Metro

Find out more about projected demand, as well as median wages and educational requirements for all the Drive for Five occupations in the article Minnesota’s Drive For 5 Initiative from DEED’s Labor Market Information Office and the Governor’s Workforce Development Board.