Senator Jasinski of Faribault Hosts Higher Education Committee Chairman Wednesday

Faribault State Senator John Jasinski is hosting the Higher Education Committee Chairman on a visit to Faribault Wednesday as part of a statewide workforce development tour.  Senator Paul Anderson (R-Plymouth), Chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee wants to learn more about local public-private partnerships.

Faribault has developed partnerships between Minnesota employers, high schools, and colleges.  With a looming workforce shortage, more Minnesota employers than ever before are getting engaged in public-private training programs to train their employees.

In a News Release from Senator Jasinski's office it states, "The tour will highlight success stories throughout the state, where employers and education providers have partnered to educate and train the next generation of Minnesotan's for successful, in-demand careers."

The visit begins 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 30 at MRG Tool and Die in Faribault.  Senator Jasinski says, "One of the major challenges facing our state is preparing our workforce for the needs of tomorrow, and one of the best ways to do that is by matching schools with local businesses that have specialized skill needs.  I am excited the Higher Education Committee is coming to Faribault to learn about some of the great public-private partnerships we have going on down here."

The Senate Workforce Development and Jobs Tour takes place Wednesday and Thursday.  Here is their schedule:

• Wednesday, October 30, 8:30 a.m. MRG Tool and Die Faribault.  Following a tour of their precision manufacturing facility representatives of MRG, the Faribault Chamber, Faribault Public Schools and South Central College will present information about the various public-private initiatives in their region, including registered apprenticeship programs, and the new Youth Skills Training Program begins coordinated between Faribault Schools, Faribault Chamber of Commerce Business Education Network, and area employers.
• 11:00 a.m. Red Wing Shoes, Red Wing.  Red Wing shoes will provide a tour and host a roundtable discussion to feature Red Wing's Learn and Earn program, a program that provides high school students work-site learning along with credentials.  Several Goodhue County employers, school districts, Red Wing Ignite joned together to build the Learn and Earn program.  Red Wing Shoes will also highlight other efforts they are undertaking to strengthen the region's manufacturing workforce.
• 2:30 p.m. Minnesota State College Southeast, Winona.  The Winona tour will feature a tour of the manufacturing lab at Minnesota State College Southeast, followed by a presentation by the Winona Area Chamber of Commerce Business Education Network on the Winona REACH program, which is designed to address the growing gap between employer needs and worker skills through first-hand work experiences.

The tour continues Thursday with stops in White Bear Lake, Wyoming and Pine City.