Minnesota North College Customized Training Solutions launched a training program for new and incumbent frontline workers within the healthcare and emergency services fields. The program increased the frequency of entry-level short-term training options in northeastern Minnesota and has resulted in:

• 102 new emergency medical responders.
• 29 new emergency medical technicians.
• 71 new firefighters.

Some of the new professionals are in process of receiving final certification. The majority are now serving area communities on fire departments, ambulance services and law enforcement agencies, and at local industry employers to enhance worker safety.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a $150,000 Workforce Development grant to Northeast Higher Education District (NHED). Total project investment is estimated at $300,000.

“Access to quality affordable training is crucial to the emergency services field and the Rural Frontline Worker Grant is making that happen,” said Amy Rice, Minnesota North College’s Emergency Services Customized Training Representative. “The grant helped open the door for many to enter the field at lower financial risk than previously able. We have high school students registering, senior citizens re-entering the field after a break from previous service, and family members are enrolling together as they share a passion for helping others."

Rice explained that COVID-19 drew the world's attention to frontline workers. Those in the emergency services fields experienced long hours, isolation and career burnout. Many of the positions in rural Minnesota are filled by paid-on-call and volunteer workers, and there was a decrease in the number of people training to become emergency medical responders, emergency medical technicians and firefighters. Long hours, low pay, high risk and job stress began to outweigh the profession’s previous draw of high adrenaline work while serving their community in a vital role that has great public support.

“There are now 200 new emergency service frontline workers in the region,” said Rice. “Additional trainings are in the pipeline, and our goal is to continue increasing that number.”

Minnesota North College Customized Training Solutions (CTS) is a customized training and continuing education provider and a member of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. It partners with Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College to deliver workforce development results to businesses and industry partners. CTS specializes in delivering instructional programming in mining and manufacturing, CDL & transportation, healthcare, business solutions, emergency services, MSHA and safety.

Individuals: Learn more about CTS training opportunities and upcoming certification classes to expand your skill set and licenses.

Regional businesses: Learn more about training your incumbent workers or seeking training for new workers by emailing Gail Anderson or calling her at 218-293-6921.

Email Danae Beaudette for Workforce Development grant information or call her at 218-735-3022.

Pictured above: Firefighting and Emergency Medical Response Training.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation invests approximately $450,000 annually into Workforce Development grants across its 13,000-square-mile service area. The grants assist with education, training and career awareness initiatives that address regional workforce needs and gaps emerging in industries and schools.

The grants can assist the region’s businesses with upskilling their incumbent workers and training potential new employees in a trade or specific skill such as welding, machining, heavy equipment simulation training, CNC and rigging.

The grants may be awarded to Minnesota North College, who in turn works with area businesses to develop and offer the training needed to fill job openings. Past grants have trained assemblers, fabricators, maintenance mechanics, auto technicians and electricians.

“Small businesses are facing challenges to retaining and recruiting new workers. Finding properly skilled workers can be a barrier to growth, both for the businesses itself and to the region’s economy,” said Commissioner Ida Rukavina, Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation. “Our Workforce Development grants strive to eliminate that barrier by supporting customized training solutions for small businesses. In partnership with Minnesota North College, the grants can help students enter high-demand careers as well as train workers already employed at a business.”

Watch a short two-minute video about Workforce Development grants.

If you are a local business and interested in learning more about Workforce Development grants to train your incumbent workers or develop training for new workers, email Gail Anderson or call her at 218-293-6921. Gail can help your business by developing programs to train and certify workers for skilled positions in demand.

Since January, Commissioner Ida Rukavina and the agency’s development staff have been meeting with mayors and officials from communities across the agency's service area. Community engagement is one of Rukavina’s top priorities, and her goal is to personally connect with business leaders, mayors, city administrators, tribal governments, nonprofits and educators in each community. Each community is important and unique, and she wants to hear directly from them what their needs and priorities are.

On April 14, Rukavina and members of the agency's development team visited Aitkin, with meetings at Aitkin County Growth and Aitkin City Hall. Housing needs were a key point of discussion. In addition, the group discussed how partners in Aitkin have been working on the Tour of Opportunities – an upcoming informational event to support economic growth.

Pictured in the front row are Commissioner Ida Rukavina and Katherine Galliger, Aitkin City Council member. In the back row are Chris Ismil, Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation community development team; Mark Jeffers, Aitkin County economic development coordinator; Mike Skrbich, Aitkin city administrator; and Matt Sjoberg Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation executive director of development. Not pictured is Whitney Ridlon, Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation community development team.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation invests approximately $30,000 annually into Grant Writing Assistance across its 13,000 square-mile service area. The funding helps cities, townships, tribal governments and nonprofits pay for experienced grant writers to help with grant applications.

Preparing an effective grant proposal, identifying funding sources and navigating the application process can be costly and requires technical expertise to which small communities often do not have access. Experienced grant writers can identify funding sources and navigate the application process to secure state, federal, philanthropic foundation, trust and corporate funding that create economic growth.

Below are three state grant opportunities with upcoming deadlines. If these grants are of interest to your community or organization, consider utilizing Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation’s “Grant Writing Assistance” program to hire an experienced grant writer to help with the grant applications.

• Minnesota Historical & Cultural Grant/Legacy Grants: Supports projects focused on preserving Minnesota’s history and culture. Small ($10,000 or less) and large (more than $10,000) grants available.
• Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Recreation Grants: Supports a wide variety of projects including parks, natural areas, trails, water access and shooting ranges. Grant amounts vary.
• DNR Rural Fire Department Assistance Grant: Provides financial and technical assistance to Minnesota fire departments in cities or communities with a population under 10,000. Grants range from $1,000 to $5,000.

Watch a short two-minute video about Grant Writing Assistance.

Email Whitney Ridlon or call her at 218-735-3004 for Grant Writing Assistance information.

BONUS OPPORTUNITY - Meet the Grantmakers: Join a free virtual event on Wednesday, May 24. Meet regional grant administrators and learn about upcoming grant applications and timelines. Learn more about the May 24 Meet the Grantmakers event.

Ahead of an important April 30 deadline, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is encouraging Minnesotans to apply for its Line Extension Program to connect homes and businesses to high-speed broadband.

The DEED Office of Broadband Development’s Line Extension Program connects internet service providers to residents and businesses that lack high-speed broadband.

If applicants are in areas where high-speed broadband is available, DEED will help service providers contact applicants about connecting to the service. If no provider offers broadband at an applicant’s address, the Line Extension Program awards grants for providers who want to extend existing broadband infrastructure to the unserved locations, providing higher-speed internet to more people around the state.

Minnesota residents and businesses that lack access to broadband speeds of at least 25 megabits per second (Mbps) download and 3Mbps upload can apply online through the Office of Broadband Development. They can also request a paper application by calling 651-259-7610 or emailing DEED.broadband@state.mn.us. Minnesotans are encouraged to apply even if they do not know their existing Internet speeds.

“High-speed broadband helps families stay connected to work, school, and healthcare. It allows businesses big and small to reach more customers and grow” said Bree Maki, executive director of the Office of Broadband Development at DEED. “The Line Extension Program is one of the ways DEED is connecting more people to the broadband they need. We encourage Minnesotans who need faster connections to apply for this program.”

While DEED will accept applications throughout the year, the Office of Broadband Development will only review applications, contact applicants and award extension grants every six months. The first review period begins on May 1, meaning Minnesotans hoping to participate most quickly should apply before then.

The Legislature created the Line Extension Program in 2022, allocating $15 million for broadband extension grants to further DEED’s mission to connect more Minnesotans to high-speed broadband. Minnesota's 2026 goal is that all homes and businesses have access to broadband with download speeds of at least 100Mbps and upload speeds of at least 20 Mbps.

Iron Range Partnership for Sustainability will host its annual Earth Fest celebration on Saturday, April 22 at the Iron Trail Motors Event Center in Virginia. This year's theme is "For the Children, For us All."

Earth Fest will feature children's activities, a local marketplace, exhibits, speakers, music and a repair cafe. Lunch will be provided by GoFigur’s. The event is free and runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Get additional details.

A Non-Traditional Lenders Forum will share information about regional non-traditional lending sources and programs. The forum is scheduled for Friday, April 28 at the Boathouse Brewpub in Ely from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 

Bankers, lenders, for-profit business owners and entrepreneurs are encouraged to attend. Presenters will include: ARDC, APEX, Innovate 218, Northspan Group, Inc., Entrepreneur Fund, Great River Energy, Northland Foundation, Northland Small Business Development Center, Minnesota Business Finance Corporation and Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation. Lunch will be provided at this free event. 

Learn more and register.