Governor Dayton signs bonding bill, awarding $5.5 million to Hmong American Partnership for construction of Workforce Training Centers in St. Paul

Governor Dayton signs bonding bill, awarding $5.5 million to Hmong American Partnership for construction of Workforce Training Centers in St. Paul

ST. PAUL – Governor Dayton signed the $825 million bonding bill passed by the Legislature last week on Wednesday morning, including $5.5 million for Hmong American Partnership’s new workforce training center in St. Paul.

This project totals $12 million to renovate two sites for workforce development activities. Currently Transportation jobs training is conducted at 44 Acker Street where a new building will be built to double the number of people benefiting from 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 career advancement skills allowing immediate job placement in high-demand jobs, as well as preparing individuals to advance to accredited secondary institutions for further training.

Thank you Governor Dayton for investing in our refugee, immigrant and new American families and communities in Minnesota.

Thank you Senator Sandy Pappas and Representative Carlos Mariani for authoring HAP’s bonding proposal and being committed champions for the work HAP does.

Thank you Ramsey County Commissioners Jim McDonough and Toni Carter for your continuous support of HAP as a top job training and placement organization in Ramsey County.

Thank you Speaker Kurt Daudt, Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, Senator Dave Senjem, Representative Dean Urdahl, and Representative Alice Hausman for including this vital community led, community powered project in the 2018 capital investment bill.

Thank you Commissioner Charlie Zelle, Senator Scott Dibble, Senator John Hoffman, Senator Foung Hawj, Representative Tim Mahoney, Representative Rena Moran, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, Councilmember Chris Tolbert, Councilmember Dai Thao, and District Council leadership from Ward 3 and Ward 6 for your continued support of HAP’s work and goals for expanded services.

All of our elected officials, community members, staff, and partners have brought HAP one enormous step closer to lifting 3,000 more people in Minnesota out of poverty – thank you all.

For questions or press inquiries please contact:
Dr. Mai Moua, COO, Hmong American Partnership (HAP)
Phone: 612-245-6665
Email: maim@hmong.org