OHE Awards 80 Minnesota Businesses with Funds to Support Employee Training

St. Paul, Minn.— Today, the Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE) announces the 2025 recipients of the Dual Training Grant. In total, $5.044 million was awarded to 80 Minnesota businesses. The funds will allow companies in high-demand industries to fund dual training programs for 902 employees.

“Dual Training Grants play a critical role in supporting our state’s economy,” OHE Commissioner Dennis Olson said. “Employees can earn a paycheck while pursuing additional education, while employers are able to hire for hard-to-fill positions. This innovative approach highlights one of the many different pathways Minnesotans can choose when pursuing a career after high school.”

OHE’s Dual Training Grant program partners with Minnesota Dual-Training Pipeline at the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) to help employers meet their workforce needs by creating earn-and-learn programs for employees.

Employers collaborate with training providers and contribute substantially to career advancement and development of their employees by providing them with on-the-job training and supporting their postsecondary education. Grant funds can be used to cover the cost of dual trainees' tuition, fees, and required course materials.

"These grants are a significant investment in Minnesota's workforce, combining employment with structured, on-the-job training and technical instruction,” said Nicole Blissenbach, DLI commissioner. “This successful approach equips individuals with the necessary skills for a fulfilling career and provides employers with a highly capable and sustainable talent pipeline."

Grantees can receive up to $150,000 for related instruction costs, of which a single dual trainee can benefit from $6,000. In addition, a grantee can receive up to $15,000 for trainee support costs. Grantees receive funds through a reimbursement process. Eligible industries include advanced manufacturing, agriculture, health care services, information technology, child care, transportation, and legal cannabis. For the 2025 grant cycle, no proposals were received from employers in the Legal Cannabis Industry.

In looking at the 2025 Dual Training Grants:

• 25 grants were awarded in the Advanced Manufacturing industry
• 5 grants were awarded in the Child Care industry
• 43 grants were awarded in the Health Care Services industry
• 2 grant were awarded in the Transportation industry
• 1 grant was awarded to a company in both the Agriculture and Information Technology industries
• 1 grant was awarded to a company in both the Advanced Manufacturing and Information Technology industries
• 1 grant was awarded to a company in both the Advanced Manufacturing and Transportation industries
• 1 grant was awarded to a company in both the Transportation and Information Technology industries
• 1 grant was awarded to a company in both the Agriculture and Child Care industries

2025 Dual Training Grantees

• AirCorps Aviation, Advanced Manufacturing – Bemidji
  • Awarded $60,000 to support training of 10 employees
• Allina Health, Health Care Services – Minneapolis
  • Awarded $120,000 to support training of 20 employees
• Alomere Health, Health Care Services – Alexandria
  • Awarded $24,000 to support training of less than 10 employees
• American Crystal Sugar Company, Advanced Manufacturing – Moorhead
  • Awarded $165,000 to support training of 25 employees
• Apple Tree Dental, Health Care Services – Mounds View
  • Awarded $55,754 to support training of 12 employees
• Bedford Industries, Advanced Manufacturing – Worthington
  • Awarded $30,000 to support training of less than 10 employees
• Beehive Homes of Lakeville, Health Care Services – Lakeville
  • Awarded $35,200 to support training of less than 10 employees
• Behrens Manufacturing, Advanced Manufacturing – Winona
  • Awarded $33,000 to support training of less than 10 employees
• Blaine Lakes Dental, Health Care Services – Blaine
  • Awarded 6,000 to support training of less than 10 employees
• C.A.R.E. Clinic, Health Care Services – Red Wing
  • Awarded 52,800 to support training of less than 10 employees
• Cassia, Health Care Services – Minneapolis
  • Awarded $110,000 to support training of 25 employees
• Center for Alcohol and Drug Treatment, Health Care Services – Duluth
  • Awarded $66,000 to support training of 10 employees
• CentraCare Health System, Health Care Services – St. Cloud
  • Awarded $150,000 to support training of 28 employees
• CHI St. Joseph's Health, Health Care Services – Park Rapids
  • Awarded $6,000 to support training of less than 10 employees
• Childrens Dental Services, Health Care Services – Minneapolis
  • Awarded $33,000 to support training of less than 10 employees
• Childrens Minnesota, Health Care Services – Minneapolis
  • Awarded $60,000 to support training of 10 employees
• Community Dental Care, Health Care Services – St. Paul
  • Awarded $150,000 to support training of 25 employees
• CPI Card Group, Advanced Manufacturing – Roseville
  • Awarded $49,000 to support training of less than 10 employees
• Cuyuna Regional Medical Center, Health Care Services – Crosby
  • Awarded $165,000 to support training of 25 employees
• Daikin Applied Americas, Advanced Manufacturing – Faribault
  • Awarded $30,000 to support training of less than 10 employees
• Essentia Health, Health Care Services – Duluth
  • Awarded $165,000 to support training of 25 employees
• Fair Meadow Nursing Home, Health Care Services – Fertile
  • Awarded $79,200 to support training of 12 employees
• Fairview Health Services, Health Care Services – Minneapolis
  • Awarded $120,000 to support training of 20 employees
• Family Tree Clinic, Health Care Services – Minneapolis
  • Awarded $6,600 to support training of less than 10 employees
• Fastenal, Advanced Manufacturing – Winona
  • Awarded $45,000 to support training of 10 employees
• Gillette Childrens Specialty Healthcare, Health Care Services – St. Paul
  • Awarded $19,800 to support training of less than 10 employees
• Grand Village, Health Care Services – Grand Rapids
  • Awarded $105,600 to support training of 16 employees
• Greater Bemidji, Advanced Manufacturing – Bemidji
  • Awarded $150,000 to support training of 25 employees
• HealthPartners Institute, Health Care Services – Minneapolis
  • Awarded $130,000 to support training of 22 employees
• Hennepin Healthcare Foundation, Health Care Services – Minneapolis
  • Awarded $66,000 to support training of 10 employees
• Hypointe Childcare, Child Care – Lakeville
  • Awarded $6,600 to support training of less than 10 employees
• In Control, Advanced Manufacturing – Minneapolis
  • Awarded $6,000 to support training of less than 10 employees
• Intek Plastics, Advanced Manufacturing – Hastings
  • Awarded $52,800 to support training of less than 10 employees
• JBS, Advanced Manufacturing – Worthington
  • Awarded $140,000 to support training of 23 employees
• Jones Metal, Advanced Manufacturing – Mankato
  • Awarded $12,000 to support training of less than 10 employees
• Jord BioScience, Agriculture and Information Technology – St. Paul
  • Awarded $24,000 to support training of less than 10 employees
• Kids Haven, Child Care – Buffalo
  • Awarded $24,000 to support training of less than 10 employees
• Lake Region Healthcare, Health Care Services – Fergus Falls
  • Awarded $19,800 to support training of less than 10 employees
• Lifespark, Health Care Services – St. Louis Park
  • Awarded $122,000 to support training of 60 employees
• Maclean Power Systems, Advanced Manufacturing – Mankato
  • Awarded $24,000 to support training of less than 10 employees
• Madison Avenue Dental, Health Care Services – Mankato
  • Awarded $6,600 to support training of less than 10 employees
• Mankato Clinic, Health Care Services – Mankato
  • Awarded $18,000 to support training of less than 10 employees
• Mayo Clinic, Health Care Services – Rochester
  • Awarded $150,000 to support training of 27 employees
• Mental Health Resources, Health Care Services – St. Paul
  • Awarded $13,200 to support training of less than 10 employees
• Mille Lacs Health System, Health Care Services – Onamia
  • Awarded $30,000 to support training of less than 10 employees
• Minnesota Precision Manufacturing Association, Advanced Manufacturing – Minneapolis
  • Awarded $165,000 to support training of 32 employees
• Minnetronix Medical, Advanced Manufacturing – St. Paul
  • Awarded $27,000 to support training of 15 employees
• MME Group, Advanced Manufacturing – Vadnais Heights
  • Awarded $12,000 to support training of less than 10 employees
• Montessori American Indian Childcare Center, Child Care – St. Paul
  • Awarded $33,000 to support training of less than 10 employees
• Neighborhood Recycling Corporation, Transportation – Minneapolis
  • Awarded $32,732 to support training of less than 10 employees
• North Mankato Family Dentistry, Health Care Services – North Mankato
  • Awarded $35,000 to support training of less than 10 employees
• North Memorial Health Care, Health Care Services – Minneapolis
  • Awarded $165,000 to support training of 27 employees
• Nurse Next Door, Health Care Services – Hopkins
  • Awarded $46,200 to support training of less than 10 employees
• Our Lady of Peace, Health Care Services – St. Paul
  • Awarded $46,200 to support training of less than 10 employees
• Perham Health, Health Care Services – Perham
  • Awarded $33,000 to support training of less than 10 employees
• Pike Lake Dental, Health Care Services – Duluth
  • Awarded $6,600 to support training of less than 10 employees
• Plastic Products Company, Advanced Manufacturing – Lindstrom
  • Awarded $37,000 to support training of less than 10 employees
• Post Consumer Brands, Advanced Manufacturing – Northfield
  • Awarded $52,800 to support training of less than 10 employees
• Ready, Set, Smile, Health Care Services – Minneapolis
  • Awarded $26,400 to support training of less than 10 employees
• Ridgeview Medical Center, Health Care Services – Waconia
  • Awarded $49,500 to support training of less than 10 employees
• River City Therapy Center, Health Care Services – Red Wing
  • Awarded $30,000 to support training of less than 10 employees
• rms Company, Advanced Manufacturing – Minneapolis
  • Awarded $48,000 to support training of less than 10 employees
• Sanco Enterprises, Information Technology and Transportation – Shoreview
  • Awarded $46,200 to support training of less than 10 employees
• Sappi Cloquet LLC, Advanced Manufacturing – Cloquet
  • Awarded $121,000 to support training of 25 employees
• Solutions Behavioral Healthcare Professionals, Health Care Services – Moorhead
  • Awarded $150,000 to support training of 30 employees
• Sonnet Montessori and Child Care, Child Care – Lakeville
  • Awarded $46,200 to support training of less than 10 employees
• Stevens Community Medical Center, Health Care Services – Morris
  • Awarded $19,800 to support training of less than 10 employees
• Tall Pines Family Dentistry, Health Care Services – Bemidji
  • Awarded $6,600 to support training of less than 10 employees
• The Aagard Group, Advanced Manufacturing and Information Technology – Alexandria
  • Awarded $150,000 to support training of 30 employees
• The Toro Company, Advanced Manufacturing – Bloomington
  • Awarded $30,000 to support training of less than 10 employees
• Touchstone Mental Health, Health Care Services – Minneapolis
  • Awarded $46,200 to support training of less than 10 employees
• Two Rivers Enterprises, Advanced Manufacturing – Stearns County
  • Awarded $58,300 to support training of 10 employees
• UMC, Advanced Manufacturing – Monticello
  • Awarded $66,000 to support training of 10 employees
• United Taconite, Advanced Manufacturing and Transportation – Forbes
  • Awarded $78,000 to support training of 13 employees
• University Aviation Association, Transportation – Memphis, TN (Partners with Minnesota colleges for aviation education)
  • Awarded $120,000 to support training of 20 employees
• University of Minnesota, Agriculture and Child Care – Crookston
  • Awarded $165,000 to support training of 25 employees
• Wellshare International, Health Care Services – Minneapolis
  • Awarded $26,250 to support training of less than 10 employees
• Winegar, Advanced Manufacturing – Waseca
  • Awarded $48,000 to support training of less than 10 employees
• Yellow Brick Road Early Childhood Development Center, Child Care – Plymouth
  • Awarded $66,000 to support training of 10 employees
• ZF Off-Highway Solutions Minnesota Inc. , Advanced Manufacturing – North Mankato
  • Awarded $18,000 to support training of less than 10 employees

Total Awarded: $5,043,936.00

The original release stated 915 employees, and was updated to 902 employees on June 30, 2025.