MN SF1779

Office of Higher Education must develop and implement the Minnesota opportunity training grant program to provide financial assistance to adults completing short-term education and training programs for high-demand occupations paying livable wages.

Eligible applicants must be Minnesota residents who have graduated from high school or are 18 years or older and accepted into qualifying training programs at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System institutions.

Grants support training of up to two semesters for occupations with at least four-star demand designation from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and average wages at or above 175 percent of the federal poverty guideline for a family of three.

Office of Higher Education must award $2,000 grants to up to 2,000 eligible applicants using state appropriations designated for the program.

Institutions must report annually for three years on job placement outcomes and wages for grant recipients, with the office providing annual summaries to legislative committees on higher education and workforce development; program expires June 30, 2013.

$4,000,000 appropriated from the general fund to the Office of Higher Education in fiscal year 2013 for the grant program.