Minnesota State Energy Sector Partnership (MSESP)

The Minnesota State Energy Sector Partnership (MSESP) is an initiative of the Governor’s Workforce Development Council (GWDC).  The GWDC is Minnesota’s State Workforce Investment Board and a leader of innovative state and regional workforce development strategies.  MSESP is funded by a three-year, $6 million United States Department of Labor grant to provide training, job placement, and related activities in the energy-efficient building, construction, and retrofit industries; the renewable electric power industry; and the bio-fuels industry.

The Partnership is a comprehensive group of stakeholders including representatives from energy efficiency and renewable energy business and industries, the GWDC, the Department of Employment and Economic Development, the Office of Energy Security, the Chair and Director of the Minnesota Workforce Council Association, State Cabinet Officials from State Agencies including Apprenticeship and Veterans’ agencies, labor organizations, state legislators, and multiple nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and economic development organizations.

The strategic vision of MSESP is for Minnesota to be a global leader in energy efficiency and renewable energy industries.  The mission of MSESP is to forge an integrated and demand-driven system of education, training, and support services in energy efficient and renewable energy industries that anticipates and advances skill attainment and sustainable career pathways for Minnesota’s workforce.

2010 Grant Awards Announcement

Posted July 23, 2010 - formal press release forthcoming

• $100,000 – Anoka County Job Training Center in partnership with Kraus-Anderson Construction Company, Anoka Technical College, and others to provide LEED sustainable construction-related training for incumbent, dislocated, high school and college students.
• $100,000 – Anoka-Ramsey Community College in partnership with SarTec Corporation, Ever Cat Fuels, LLC and others to provide training and certification for bio-fuels production technicians.
• $63,500 – Center for Energy and Environment in partnership with Houle Installation, G.R Danielson Insulation, Energy Savers Insulation, and others to provide on-the-job training for residential energy efficiency.
• $99,125 – Central Lakes College in partnership with Zenergy, Jim’s Electric Company, Inc., RetroGreen Energy, Rural Renewable Energy Alliance, and others to offer regional short-term job readiness to incumbent and dislocated workers in energy efficiency and electric power generation.
• $100,000 – City Academy in partnership with Dayton’s Bluff Neighborhood Housing Services, and others for career training in green constructions with NCEER certification and on-the-job training at energy efficient construction sites.
• $50,000 – City of St. Paul in partnership with the University of Minnesota Center for Sustainable Building Research, and others for training on sustainable building codes.
• $99,891 – Dakota County Technical College in partnership with Siemens Energy, Inc., and others to develop an intentionally integrated mobile training system designed to produce a highly skilled electric power sector workforce in the area of clean-energy smart grid technology.
• $85,935 – Easy Energy Systems, Inc. in partnership with Martin County West School District, and others to provide internships in business that manufacture modular ethanol systems and provides automation technology for the renewable energy industry.
• $100,000 – Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College in partnership with Common Grounds Construction, LLC, and others to provide Building Performance training for BPI certification.
• $100,000 – Honeywell International, Inc. in partnership with Goodwill/Easter Seals Minnesota, and others, with support from Teamsters Local Union No. 1145, for incumbent, dislocated workers, and veterans to train in energy efficiency.
• $40,000 – Metro Area Sheet Metal Joint Apprenticeship & Training Center in partnership with Sheet Metal, Air Conditioning & Roofing Contractors of Minnesota, Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council, and others to provide LEED construction training and certifications in green construction.
• $61,233 – Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians in partnership with Nor-son, Red Lake HRA, and others for occupational training and skills development for green construction, including on-the-job training and ABE services.
• $56,701 – South Central College  in partnership with RW Carlstrom, Met-Con Construction, MTU Onsite Energy, and others for LEED AP certification.
• $89,850 – Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council in partnership with AES Wind Generation, Granite Falls Ethanol, and others to train entry-level employees for the bio-fuels industry, targeting unemployed, underemployed and incumbent workers.

For more information about grant awards, contact:

Teresa Kittridge, MSESP Project Manager, teresa@mnrem.org, 952-454-7211

The proposal review process included three teams: (1) a technical review team that determines eligible proposals; (2) a team of content reviewers that score proposals; and (3) the MSESP Executive Team that makes award decisions.

The technical and content review teams consisted of representatives from:

All reviewers and MSESP Executive Team members signed and abided by MSESP’s conflict of interest policy and did not participate in review, scoring, discussion, or decision about MSESP proposals in which he/she had conflict of interest.

MSESP Executive Team award decisions were based on technical and content reviews in addition to grant objectives and projected outcomes as listed in the GWDC’s Technical Proposal with the U.S. Department of Labor.

MSESP received 44 proposals.  Click here for a list of proposals (applicant name withheld), including amount requested, region and industry.

2010 Request for Proposals to Train Minnesotans in the Occupational Skills of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Industries

The Minnesota State Energy Sector Partnership (MSESP) requests proposals from businesses and organizations in Minnesota that present innovative concepts for Minnesota to “skill up while greening up.”

Any business or organization based in Minnesota is eligible to apply for funds. Partnerships and inter-regional collaborations that extend beyond Minnesota are also eligible.

The purpose of the funding is to train Minnesotans in the occupational skills of energy efficiency and renewable energy industries.  Proposals must provide training, job placement, and related activities in one or more of the following: the energy-efficient building, construction, and retrofit industries; the renewable electric power industry; and the bio-fuels industry.  Proposals that address supporting sectors and/or suppliers will be considered.

Proposals are due by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, June 18, 2010.

• Announcement of Request for Proposals
• Request for Proposals
• List of ARRA-related and other funds available related to green jobs training and energy
• Questions Submitted by Potential Applicants and Frequently Asked Questions (Last Updated June 16)

MSESP/GWDC Grant Documents with the U.S. Department of Labor

This workforce solution was funded by a grant awarded by the US Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration. The solution was created by the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the US Department of Labor. The Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warrantees, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information on linked sites and including but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This solution is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the owner.