ST. PAUL, MN – Rep. Barb Haley (R-Red Wing) was appointed to the Governor’s Workforce Development Board on Tuesday, February 12. The Governor’s Workforce Development Board (GWDB) seeks to strengthen the skills of Minnesota’s workforce and is tasked with advising the Governor on issues surrounding Minnesota’s workforce system. It is comprised of key leaders from business, education, labor, community-based organizations, and government.
“It is an honor to be appointed to the Governor’s Workforce Development Board,” said Rep. Haley. “Workforce development has been a priority of mine in the legislature and I am eager to begin working with members of the Board and Governor Walz on these important issues. It is critical that our state continue to close our workforce gap and ensure young people have the skills necessary to thrive in careers in high-demand fields.”
Rep. Haley has been a strong and effective advocate on workforce development issues in the legislature. During the 2017-18 legislative session, Rep. Haley authored legislation that is helping to better prepare students for career opportunities by establishing workforce development scholarships to assist students interested in pursuing careers in high-demand fields. This has had a direct impact on Rep Haley’s district as Minnesota State Southeast Tech currently has eight workforce development scholarships of $3,500 available for students starting this fall.
Rep. Haley also co-authored legislation to create Youth Skills Training grants through the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. These grants are designed to develop and implement paid-learning opportunities in high-demand fields for high school and college students through partnerships between schools and private industry. Rep. Haley worked extensively with a collaborative of Goodhue County and area schools as they applied and were awarded a youth skills training grant. They created a "Learn and Earn" program with area manufacturers that high school students are now participating in.
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