Profiles of Green Training Projects Around Minnesota

“The Minnesota State Energy Sector Partnership (MSESP) was a statewide initiative with a mission to forge an integrated and demand-driven system of education, training, and support services in energy efficiency and renewable energy industries that anticipated and advanced skill attainment and sustainable career pathways for Minnesota’s workforce" (p. inside cover). The partnership funded 25 projects which trained 1,782 individuals in solar energy, wind power, biofuels, energy efficiency, and conservation...In each community, business leaders partnered with educational institutions, foundations, nonprofit agencies, and workforce development professionals to lead MSESP grants. The resulting projects, [which are profiled in this publication], touched students, incumbent and displaced workers, and community members by meeting critical labor market demands" (p. 1). (Abstractor: Author)

“The partnership exceeded or was on track to reach all participant outcome goals by the grant end date of June 30, 2013. Although training incumbent workers was not one of MSESP’s original goals, the partnership trained 444 incumbents who benefitted from layoff avoidance or moved into higher-paying positions” (p.2). “Industry partners were a critical component of this work. In each community, business leaders partnered with educational institutions, foundations, nonprofit agencies, and workforce development professionals to lead MSESP grants. The resulting projects touched students, incumbent and displaced workers, and community members by meeting critical labor market demands. MSESP-funded projects built on training strategies that have proven successful in serving Minnesotans, including stackable credentials, incumbent worker training, on-the-job training, apprenticeships, career academies, and career pathways models. They have also increased opportunities and access to training for low-wage and educationally-under-prepared adults and youth, helping them increase their basic and occupational skills and acquire credentials that will help them attain employment” (p. 1). “As the profiles of MSESP projects in this report show, investment in green skills is and will continue to be a proven economic engine, crucial particularly in communities recovering from high unemployment and other recessionary pressures” (p. 1). (Author: Abstractor and Website Staff)

• Last Updated:
• Created:
• Resource Publication Date: 2013
• Author(s): Minnesota State Energy Sector Partnership
• Organizational Author(s): Governor’s Workforce Development Council
• Funding Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration
• Resource Availability: Publicly available
• Posted by: Wesley Peterson
• Posted in: Workforce System Strategies