Minnesota Job Skills Partnership – Partnership Program Grants
Forecasted
Minnesota Job Skills Partnership – Partnership Program Grants support business–education partners in creating customized worker training to meet Minnesota employers’ needs and expand training capacity.
Funder: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
Due Dates (Anticipated): September 2027 (Regular, $50,000 or more) | October 2027 (Short Form, under $50,000)
Funding Amounts: Up to $500,000; typically 1–2 years, maximum 3 years; at least 1:1 business match
Summary: Supports cooperative business–education projects developing and delivering customized training for new and incumbent workers in Minnesota.
Key Information: Applicants must be accredited Minnesota post-secondary educational institutions or training providers with active Minnesota business participation.
Description
The Minnesota Job Skills Partnership (MJSP) Board, through Minnesota DEED, funds cooperative training projects between education and business. Partnership grants support the development and delivery of training for new or incumbent workers, primarily through new or customized curriculum addressing participating businesses’ employment needs. The program seeks to meet immediate workforce needs while building lasting business–education relationships and expanding training institutions’ capacity.
Priorities include equity and economic opportunity, durable skills, wage gains, credentials, job creation and retention, and business growth. Preference goes to institutions serving economically disadvantaged people, people of color, people with disabilities, or people experiencing economic dislocation, and to rural businesses. Diversity, equity, and inclusion training is strongly encouraged and prioritized. Collaboration among training institutions and businesses, innovative training approaches, and continued curriculum use beyond the grant are also valued.
