Office of Civil Rights
10 programs, 107 graduates
In MnDOT workforce training programs, participants learn the skills to gain entry-level employment in highway construction. Many have secured a job by graduation day. Often, this job is the beginning of a fulfilling career in a highway construction trade.
In the spring and summer of 2022, MnDOT offered 10 free programs:
Construction Career Orientation: MnDOT partnered with the Karen Organization of Minnesota to provide a career orientation for 14 adults from emerging communities. The program also helped participants remove barriers to participation in other MnDOT training programs by earning a diploma or a driver’s license. The training took place over five weeks in the metro area.
Laborer: In Rochester, MN, eight people graduated from a two-week laborer training. Workforce Development Inc. and Local 405 Laborer’s International Union of North America partnered with MnDOT to deliver this program. Participants learned essential skills and gained industry exposure, including an overview of the unions of laborers, operating engineers, and carpenters. Four graduates now work as laborers in highway heavy construction.
Cement Mason-Labor: Thirteen people learned skills in cement masonry and construction labor. Cement Masons Local 633 provided this five-week training in Minneapolis. The 13 graduates spoke about how they came into the program as 13 strangers but were leaving as one crew. On graduation day, at least one person had gained employment with Shafer Contracting.
Cement Masons Tribal Training: Nine members of Minnesota’s federally recognized tribes graduated from a cement masonry training program in the metro area. Cement Masons Local 633 provided this 10-week training. Participants had the opportunity to demonstrate their newly acquired skills for potential employers. All nine graduates secured jobs on graduation day.
Operating Engineer: Twelve people graduated from a 12-day program with Local 49 Operating Engineers. Participants from across the state gathered in Hinckley, MN, to gain essential hands-on experience.
Operating Engineer and Ironworker: Participants had the option of training as an operating engineer or ironworker. Seven people received hands-on training from Local 49 Operating Engineers and Ironworkers Local 512. This four-week training took place in Northern Minnesota. Four of the seven graduates are now employed in highway heavy construction.
Pile Driving: Seven people learned skills in carpentry, pile driving, welding, and safety. The Carpenters Training Institute provided the training in the metro area. All seven graduates had jobs on graduation day.
Commercial Driver's License – Duluth: Four people graduated from this Class A CDL training program. The six-week training was held in partnership with the City of Duluth and Lake Superior College. All four graduates now work as commercial drivers.
Commercial Driver's License – Cook County: Cook County higher education hosted a CDL training program. One person received their Class A driver’s license, and one person received their Class B driver’s license.
ADA Concrete and Inspection: Thirty-one participants from Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Red Lake Nation and Bois Forte Band of Chippewa learned how to build sidewalks compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and inspect them. All training took place on tribal lands and that training resulted in upgraded tribal infrastructure.
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