Minnesota Training Partnership Wins Grant to Expand Training

The nonprofit will scale union trade programs to provide a larger pool of skilled carpenters, boilermakers, and millwrights.

Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Jobs — General

Isometric editorial illustration of work boots and construction tools, representing workforce development and trade training programs in Minnesota. — The Minnesota Training Partnership will use a new state grant to scale its five-week union trade programs for carpenters, boilermakers, and millwrights. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Minnesota Training Partnership received a Drive for 5 grant from the state Department of Employment and Economic Development to expand its union workforce training. The organization prepares individuals for careers as carpenters, boilermakers, and millwrights through five-week programs.

Why it matters

This grant aims to help Minnesota employers and union contractors address ongoing skilled labor shortages. By training unemployed and underemployed workers for specialized trade roles, the program attempts to increase the supply of qualified talent in the construction and industrial sectors.

The Minnesota Training Partnership trains more than 300 people annually through its five-week programs. The nonprofit currently employs 21 staff members to manage operations and support services across state training facilities.

The players

Minnesota Training Partnership

A nonprofit founded in 2017 that prepares workers for union trade careers.

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development

The state agency responsible for workforce development and economic policy.

The details

The program utilizes a structured screening and assessment process to identify candidates with a high likelihood of success in union trades. Once enrolled, participants receive coaching and support services, including transportation assistance and work shoes, designed to boost retention rates throughout the intensive five-week curriculum. Training takes place at established union sites, such as the Carpenters Training Institute in St. Paul and a facility in Hermantown.

2017: Minnesota Training Partnership was founded.
October 23, 2026: Minnesota Training Partnership received the Drive for 5 grant.

Market Landscape

The funding aligns with the state's Drive for 5 initiative, which prioritizes workforce development in high-demand industrial sectors. This model mirrors broader industry trends where partnerships between nonprofits and unions act as primary pipelines for mitigating skilled labor deficits.

Employers and contractors in the trades should monitor this pipeline as a potential source for qualified, newly trained talent. Operators should also review their own recruitment processes to determine if similar support-service models could reduce turnover in their technical roles.

The takeaway

Expanding workforce pipelines requires addressing both technical skill gaps and the logistical barriers that prevent candidate retention. Operators should track the success of these nonprofit-union models to identify potential future partnerships for their own skilled labor recruitment.