Bill > HF2139

This bill appropriates $4 million (split evenly between fiscal years 2026 and 2027) to the Center for African Immigrants and Refugees Organization (CAIRO) to implement the Gateways2Growth Initiative, a comprehensive workforce development program targeting three key sectors: information technology, transportation, and health care. The initiative aims to address workforce shortages by providing training and job placement services, with a specific focus on underserved communities such as immigrants, refugees, and rural populations. The program will offer full-stack development and cybersecurity training in IT, commercial driver's license (CDL) training to address transportation industry shortages, and health care professional training for roles like certified nursing assistants and phlebotomists. CAIRO is required to distribute grant funds equally between metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas and prioritize individuals seeking career transitions or entering high-demand fields. The bill mandates an annual legislative report detailing participant enrollment, employment outcomes, wage growth, regional distribution, and recommendations for program expansion. The commissioner of employment and economic development will oversee the program's transparency and accountability, with success measured by metrics such as total program graduates, average wage growth, profession retention rates, and reduction in workforce shortages.

Labor and Employment

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF2139&ssn=0&y=2025