HAP receives bipartisan support for $5.5 million bonding to build Workforce Training Centers in the East metro

HAP receives bipartisan support for $5.5 million bonding to build Workforce Training Centers in the East metro

May 24, 2018

ST. PAUL – Both the Minnesota House and Minnesota Senate passed a capital investment package with bipartisan support featuring $825 million in general obligation bonds to fund construction projects throughout the state.

Hmong American Partnership’s workforce trainings centers were among the line itemizations in the landmark bonding bill. HAP has consistently been a top performer in Ramsey County for job placement and is positioned to accelerate the jobs economy by training people in MN DEED’s 5-star high demand job categories.

“Hmong American Partnership is consistently the most successful job training and placement provider in our county. This expansion will allow them to do more of what they do and they have proven that well time after time.” – Ramsey County Board Chair Jim McDonough

“HAP has been a pioneer in job training programs for immigrants and refugees for nearly three decades. Our State’s investment in their new workforce development center will expand opportunities and open up new frontiers for so many of our new Minnesotan families.” – State Senator Sandy Pappas

HAP would like to thank our elected House, Senate, County and City leadership for their support of the project. We remain cautiously optimistic that Governor Dayton will sign this important bill into law that will lead to high demand custom jobs training and placement for 200 additional family-supporting wage earners in the Twin Cities Metro Area. This vital State investment will be matched with non-state resources, of which more than $2 million has already been donated.

2018 BONDING Request: $5,500,000 Project Summary: This project totals $12 million to renovate two sites in sequence to be used for workforce development activities. Currently training is conducted at 44 Acker Street where a new building, approximately 15,000 sq. feet, will be built for expanded CDL, Diesel/Auto Mechanic training and behind the wheel. During renovation, training will move to 240 Plato Blvd site, approximately 30,000 sq. feet, which will subsequently be renovated for classes in IT, Manufacturing, Hospitality, Customer Service, Health Care, and more. HAP’s training model targets high-needs, high-risk populations and prepares them with skills allowing immediate job placement as well as preparing individuals to advance to accredited secondary institutions for further training.

For questions or press inquiries please contact:
Dr. Mai Moua, COO, Hmong American Partnership (HAP)
Phone: 651-495-1517 Email: maim@hmong.org