SE Tech shares in major grant

Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical College, partnering with Fairview Red Wing Health Services and a broad consortium, has received part of a nearly $12.7 million grant.

The money will come through Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College Career Training, a federal initiative in the 2010 Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act.

The grant provides funding for a new “Bridges2Healthcare” consortium that Southeast Tech and seven other community colleges will use to support workers in obtaining the necessary knowledge, skills and credentials to achieve well-paying employment in health fields.

Eight other work force partners and more than 25 employers also are in this consortium, which builds off the AIM2WIN economic initiative. The AIM2WIN partners are committed to growing economic development in the southeastern Minnesota, western Wisconsin and northeastern Iowa.

"This consortium is a multi-state, multi-college agreement that makes our entire region stronger," Southeast Tech President Jim Johnson said.

The consortium includes Rochester Community and Technical College, Riverland Community College, Western Technical College, Chippewa Valley Technical College, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, Hawkeye Community College and Northeast Iowa Community College. Funds

will train participants for jobs in the health care industry, and all colleges in the educational partnership will work toward expanding and streamlining processes for offering students credit for prior learning and experience.

Health care employers who are working with Southeast Technical include Winona Health and Fairview Red Wing Medical Center.

This funding is part of a $500 million national effort announced by the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Education to support community colleges with job training and workforce development to help economically dislocated workers who are changing careers.

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