Campus News

Leveraged Equipment Funds

9/13/12
Minnesota West Community & Technical College will receive $74,779 in state equipment funds which will be dedicated to establishing a second 12 station mobile welding lab to expand the capacity for Minnesota West Community & Technical College to deliver specialized welding training. The mobile lab will help meet a pronounced need for welders and metal fabricators in southwestern Minnesota and will support students and incumbent workers in learning three types of welding and an improved ventilation system that meets proposed federal air quality standards for workers. The equipment includes a 53’ semi van trailer, a fume extraction and heating/air conditioning system, and 12 MIG/TIG welders with accessories. The state funding was matched by both cash and in-kind contributions totaling $102,570 from the following private sector businesses throughout the Southwest Minnesota region:

AGCO- Jackson Plant (Jackson)
Doherty Staffing Solutions (Jackson)
Winnebago Manufacturing Company (Blue Earth)
Chandler Industries, Inc. (Montevideo)
Zierke Built Manufacturing Inc. (Winnebago, MN)
The Schwan Food Company (Marshall)
Contractor of Choice (Marshall)
Bisbee Plumbing & Heating (Marshall)
SMI & Hydraulics (Porter)
Jim Brewers Electric (Minneota)
American Welding & Gas, Inc. (Willmar)

Dawn Regnier, Director of Minnesota West Customized Training Services comments, “It is exciting to receive this level of support from the System Office and the private sector businesses throughout our region. We appreciate the generosity of the businesses that partnered with Minnesota West to support this initiative. The level of funding expands our capacity to offer more welding training to students and assist our employers with their workforce development needs.”

"Leveraged Equipment funding is exactly the type of financial funding that will make southwest Minnesota thrive. Minnesota West has many faculty and staff to thank for this achievement, as well as assistance from MnSCU and the state of Minnesota," notes Minnesota West President Richard Shrubb.

The leverage equipment funding was a bill that was passed in May by the Legislature and signed by Governor Dayton that included a one-time appropriation to Minnesota State Colleges and Universities for equipment for instructional programs that produce graduates with skills in high-demand occupations. To receive these funds, MnSCU colleges and universities were required to leverage the state dollars by securing matching cash or contributions from non-state sources such as local business, vendors or foundations.