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Greater Twin Cities United Way grant spotlights manufacturing careers

Greater Twin Cities United Way grant spotlights manufacturing careers

A grant from the Greater Twin Cities United Way (GTCUW) totaling $10,000 is intended to expose Burnsville High School students to careers in manufacturing. 

Sourced through GTCUW by a local manufacturer, District 191 will use the grant to support a variety of initiatives. Some of the ways the district hopes to spotlight manufacturing careers include:

  • Project Lead the Way (PLTW) courses

  • PIPELINE Project (Private Investment, Public Education, Labor and Industry Experience), a multi-million dollar initiative through the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry to address current and future workforce needs

  • Industry visits

  • Counselor externships specific to industry

  • Work-based learning for students in industry

“The Greater Twin Cities United Way has supported District 191 from the very beginning of our Pathways work — from professional development and design-thinking processes to grant-funding to implement our ideas,” said Director of Strategic Partnerships and Pathways Kathy Funston.

Greater Twin Cities United Way has been instrumental in enhancing the Pathways work at Burnsville High School. The organization has awarded the school over $200,000 for career pathway initiatives, including the EMT programWorkplace Skill Certificate program and summer teacher externships.

This grant is one of several grants that District 191 received in the fall of 2019, totaling more than $135,000. Other grants include funding to provide transportation for students to attend a college fair, offer STEM programming in the summer for incoming freshmen and develop an associate’s degree program at the high school.