State awards grant to train heavy equipment operators

Minnesota has awarded a $399,000 Minnesota Job Skills Partnership (MJSP) grant to train 227 heavy equipment operators for mines in Northeastern Minnesota, officials said Wednesday.

The grant will allow Iron Range employers to hire 183 newly trained workers, said officials from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, which issued the grant.

The goal of MJSP is to work with businesses and schools to retrain workers and keep high-quality jobs in Minnesota.

So far this year, MJSP has awarded $5.26 million in grants to train 6,140 workers from 54 companies across the state. Officials expect the program will leverage another $15.43 million this year from partnering businesses and educational institutions.