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Renewable Energy Marketplace –
Alliance for Talent Development Announces Six Grants
 

The Renewable Energy Marketplace -- Alliance for Talent Development (MNREM) has recently awarded six grants to train people for jobs in the renewable energy industry in the 36-county MNREM region.

“The projects funded through these awards represent a step toward building the strong and proactive talent development system that the renewable energy industry needs to stay competitive,” said Mark Willers, MNREM board chair.

Three current, high-performing MNREM grantees will expand their work:
 

Nova-Tech Engineering, University of Minnesota Morris, Alexandria Technical College, MN West Community & Technical College, and others, $85,000.

Existing project:  The biomass gasification curriculum will be expanded to include an online component. The educational partners will train Nova-Tech employees and others in biomass gasification principles and applications.

Heron Lake Bioenergy LLC, Minnesota West Community &Technical College, $95,000.

Existing Project:  Partners will offer ethanol production education and training, using the NovaTech Ethanol Training Simulator, to entry-level employees and potential new hires in ethanol facilities across the state.

V-Tek, Dotson Iron Castings, Cambria, South Central College, and others, $95,000.

Existing Project:  Partners will expand mechatronics training, include Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College in the partnership and offer a second round of basic mechatronics classes.

Ottertail Power Co, Bongards’ Creameries, Ottertail Ag Enterprises, MN State Community & Technical College, $95,000.

New Project:  Funding will be used to train business partners in maintenance, boiler operator, maintenance welding and ethanol theory.

Dotson Iron Castings, V-Tek, MICO, South Central College, and others, $70,000.

New Project:  Funding will support a second phase of Shared Work Pilot Program and five ‘stackable’ classes with certificate to earn diploma. The ‘stackable’ approach to training refers to two layers of training: foundation classes which form the base of the second layer, career preparation classes.

Austin Public Utilities, Riverland Community College, Workforce Development, Inc., $90,000.

New Project:  Funding will support Solar Installer certificate program development and training.

About MNREM-WIRED

“Minnesota has always been a leader in renewable energy innovation,” Willers said. “Our previously-funded MNREM-WIRED projects are already showing exciting growth and outcomes for developing talent in the renewable energy industry. With these MNREM investments, we make it possible for our renewable industries and our state to grow and adapt more quickly to our changing world.”

For more information on MNREM, and all projects, go to www.mnrem.org .

The WIRED (Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development) initiative is a $5 million U.S. Department of Labor investment designed to energize the nation’s  economy through regional economic development partnerships and workforce education and training. The Renewable Energy Marketplace of southern and western Minnesota is one of 39 areas across the United States participating in the WIRED initiative.
This is the final award through the Renewable Energy Marketplace from the WIRED grant to support talent development, entrepreneurship and business growth, and regional leadership and identity.


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