The state Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has announced an $85,050 Low Income Worker Training Program grant to support a partnership of the Northwest Indian Opportunities Industrialization Center (NWOIC), Northwest Technical College, and the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership (MJSP) to train 45 American Indians and unemployed individuals in the health care field.
"The partnership recognizes the importance of training American Indians for career-building jobs that the community is demanding," said Dan McElroy, DEED commissioner and Minnesota Job Skills Partnership board chair. "It continues to build a stronger health care workforce that better reflects the community and better serves patients."
Under the grant, 45 lower-income trainees will enroll in a 50-hour NWOIC classroom and lab program that combines environmental services technician and food services technician courses. After successfully completing the courses, trainees will earn a certificate and be eligible to participate in pre-employment skill development activities and computer training at the NWOIC.
Trainees will also qualify for some health care positions, such as personal care attendant, or could choose to continue with Northwest Technical College's 120- hour Certified Nursing Assistant training.
The Low Income Worker Training Program was launched in 2005 within DEED's Job Skills Partnership Program. The program helps people with incomes at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty line to learn additional skills that enable them to move up the career ladder to higher-paying jobs.
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For more information on the grant, contact, James A. Clark, executive director, NWOIC, 1-218-759-2022 or e-mail j.z.z.clark@gmail.com .
MJSP offers technical, financial and job training assistance to businesses, communities, educational institutions and workers.
