TEAMWORKS GRANT INVITES LATINOS

Teamworks grant invites Latinos
Lu Ann Hurd-Lof
Park Rapids Enterprise - 07/25/2006

Teamworks, Inc., Park Rapids has been awarded two Minnesota Job Skills Partnership (MJSP) Program grants of 22 grants given statewide to support thousands of incumbent and lower-income workers in receiving customized workplace training.

The MJSP Board awarded $3.8 million to such programs.

“These grants represent important economic development initiatives for the State of Minnesota,” said acting commissioner and MJSP Board chair Ward Einess.

“In particular, the ongoing development of English-language skills among incumbent and lower-income workers lessens the barrier to their success and is critical to continued growth in our demand industries and services.”

One of the grants to Teamworks and TEAM Industries, Detroit Lakes and Audubon, will fund new machinist curriculum to support the growth of a Latino machinist labor force.

“This will be the first Spanish machinist program in the state,” said Kathy Carney, Teamworks CEO.

“We’re finding not enough people to fill these skilled jobs,” Carney said. Citing a low unemployment rate of 3 percent, she said, “We figure we have to look at innovative ways to recruit new employees.

“We believe the Latino population has been underutilized and will often take jobs others won’t. We also think Latinos have the same aspirations and goals for career mobility and pay that everyone else has.”

Teamworks has begun placing ads seeking documented workers with some English skills and an interest in manufacturing jobs in some newspapers written for Spanish-speaking populations. They also are recruiting in Minnesota communities with a Latino population, including Willmar, Pelican Rapids, St. Cloud and Owatonna.

In addition, Carney and Rosalie Hjermstad, Park Rapids, a consultant with Teamworks and the Midwest Minnesota Community Development Corp., will be going to colleges in Brownsville, TX to seek candidates for further training.

Initially, the grant would fund 65 trainees in on-the-job training for foundry; computer numerical controlled lathe and CNC mill operations; English for manufacturing; and technical training.

The second grant awarded to Teamworks is for $173,250 to recruit, assess and train 75 eligible low-income workers to become CNC machine operators. These trainees will be recruited from Red Lake, White Earth and Leech Lake reservations and the surrounding area, Carney said.