Minnesota Job Skills Partnership

This state-wide partnership provides training funds for new or existing employees. Training must be done in cooperation with public or private educational institutions in the state. Grants up to $400,000 are available.

Customized Training Programs

In the Cambridge area, recent grants have been administered by Anoka-Ramsey Community College and Pine Technical College. Responding to the unique needs of area businesses, the colleges have provided a broad range of customized training programs for:

• Biomedical device
  
• Geographic information services (GIS)
  
• Information technology
  
• Computer software application
  
• Management and supervisory
  
• Sales and customer service
  
• Core skills, such as problem solving and team building

Minnesota Workforce Center: Cambridge

The Workforce Center in Cambridge assists businesses by:

• Locating workers
  
• Posting jobs on Minnesota's or America's Job bank at no cost
  
• Providing reimbursement for on-the-job training for dislocated workers
  
• Providing tax credits for workers in targeted groups, such as welfare-to-work clients or disadvantaged youth.

The Workforce Center coordinates local, state and federal employment and jobs training programs in one central location. It houses several agencies, including:

• Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)
  
• Central Minnesota Jobs and Training Service (a partner in the Minnesota Workforce Center System)
  
• Minnesota Department of Rehabilitation
  
• State Services for the Blind
  
• Pine Technical College

East Central Minnesota Workforce Partnership

The Cambridge-based partnership is committed to developing and maintaining a qualified workforce within the five-county area. It fosters communication and cooperation among the business community, public agencies, and education to ensure that current and emerging workforce needs are met.