Fergus Falls, Breckenridge schools win youth skills training grants

Fergus Falls and Breckenridge schools and employers were among 17 partnerships statewide to share $1.5 million in Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry Youth Skills Training grants, putting two Otter Tail County communities in line for money meant to move students from classrooms into real workplaces.

The grants are built around hands-on training for students old enough to take part in career-linked learning. In practice, that means schools and employers can expand programs that give young people direct exposure to job sites, structured training pathways and the chance to test out careers before graduation. For students in Fergus Falls and Breckenridge, the money could strengthen access to internships, on-the-job learning and work-based classes tied to local industries.

That matters in a county where manufacturing, health care, agriculture, transportation, retail and public-service employers all compete for workers. A stronger youth training pipeline gives students a clearer view of what jobs exist close to home and gives employers a way to spot talent earlier, before graduates leave the area or enter the labor force without job-specific experience.

The state did not release a dollar amount for each partnership, but the fact that Fergus Falls and Breckenridge made the cut shows their schools and employer partners were able to put together proposals that matched the program’s goals. The state’s youth skills training model is designed to reward partnerships that connect education with employer needs and build readiness for in-demand jobs, not just classroom credentials.

For Otter Tail County, the grant round signals more than another education award. It points to a workforce strategy that starts before diplomas are handed out, with students gaining practical experience and local employers gaining a better shot at keeping trained workers in the region.