State Awards $2.5 Million in Workforce Training Grants
Eight Minnesota educational institutions will deliver customized training programs developed with local businesses.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Jobs — General
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Minnesota's Department of Employment and Economic Development awarded 14 workforce development grants totaling over $2.5 million to eight Minnesota educational institutions. Grantees expect to train more than 2,000 workers through the programs.
Why it matters
Medical device manufacturing is undergoing rapid automation and technological advancements, creating a growing skills gap in equipment maintenance. Defense-ready operations at local manufacturers also require retraining of current employees.
The state awarded 14 grants totaling over $2.5 million, with the University of Minnesota receiving $432,869 for a Boston Scientific partnership and Hennepin Technical College receiving three grants totaling $607,634. Grantees expect to train more than 2,000 workers, though how that projection will be measured was not stated.
The players
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
The state agency that administers workforce development and economic growth programs across Minnesota.
Hennepin Technical College
A public two-year college in Minnesota that received three of the awarded grants for partnerships with Medtronic, Heliene USA, and La Machine Shop.
Boston Scientific
A global medical device manufacturer whose partnership with the University of Minnesota received $432,869 in grant funding.
Medtronic
A multinational medical technology company that partnered with Hennepin Technical College on a grant-funded training program.
The details
The grants fund customized training developed with Minnesota businesses, and participating companies must partner with an accredited educational institution to qualify. Covered programming includes onboarding, upskilling, and communication and leadership development. Hennepin Technical College will deliver automation robotics training to incumbent employees of Medtronic, while La Machine Shop in Ham Lake is training its workforce for a more regulated, defense-ready environment.
Timeline
Nov. 5, 2026: Minnesota DEED published the grant announcement.
Market Landscape
Minnesota's medical device sector is adopting automation rapidly, shifting required skills toward robotics and equipment maintenance. These grants position the state's training institutions to supply the retraining that incumbent manufacturers now need to stay competitive.
Workers at partner companies such as Medtronic and La Machine Shop may see retraining opportunities tied to automation and defense-ready operations. Job seekers in Minnesota's medical device and manufacturing fields may find expanded training pathways through the participating colleges.
The takeaway
Automation is reshaping skills requirements in Minnesota manufacturing, and employer-college partnerships are becoming a key route to retraining. Workers and employers in these sectors can track which local institutions offer partnership-based programs.
Further reading
For related coverage, see Jobs — General in Minnesota.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Hometownsource.
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