University of Minnesota Crookston Secures $165,000 Dual Training Grant

The University of Minnesota Crookston has been awarded a $165,000 Dual Training Grant from the Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE) to bolster workforce development in early childhood education and sustainable agriculture.

This funding is part of a broader $4.87 million statewide initiative to advance employee training in high-demand industries across Minnesota and will directly support specialized instruction, and provide essential resources for trainees entering these critical industries.

The funding will directly support two distinct educational pathways across the University of Minnesota System:

• Early Childhood Education ($90,000) - Allocated to the UMN Crookston Early Childhood Education program to train future educators and address critical shortages in regional child care.
• Agriculture and Horticulture ($60,000) - Directed to the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum for the Agriculture Horticulture Farm Manager program. Funds will support students earning a Sustainable Horticulture Certificate, an MDA Pesticide Applicator License and training to become sustainable horticulture farm managers.

"This grant has impacted our early childhood education candidates, the Early Childhood Development Center, area cooperating teachers, early childhood education faculty and the current and future children/students in which they teach," said Shari Daniels, Ph.D., UMN Crookston education program director and associate professor. "Our early childhood candidates, due to their combined experiences in coursework and in an early childhood development center, express how the grant has enabled them apply directly in the context of the early childhood setting what they are learning in their coursework and this aids in their increased confidence."

"Cooperating teachers recognize this added confidence in student teaching experiences as education faculty remark on their increased engagement in their coursework," Daniels added. "While many of our candidates double major in both early childhood and elementary education, it will be their future students of all ages who benefit from this increased competence of their teachers."

The total OHE grant award for UMN Crookston includes $150,000 dedicated to related academic instruction costs such as tuition, fees, books and materials, and $15,000 allocated for comprehensive trainee support. These support funds will assist participants with transportation, mileage, lodging, meals, tutoring services, translation services, preparatory courses, interpreter services, and accessibility services.

2026 Dual Training Grants will support 76 organizations throughout the state in training 867 employees. The Dual Training Grant program operates under an "earn-and-learn" approach, bringing together structured on-the-job training with related technical instruction to achieve economic success for workers and businesses.

"The impact of these grants goes far beyond employee training," OHE Commissioner Dennis Olson said in an OHE news release. "From building the next generation workforce in high-demand industries to providing the training necessary for Minnesotans to start a career and support their family, each award represents an investment in the future of our state."

Eligible industries across the state include advanced manufacturing, agriculture, health care services, information technology, child care, transportation and legal cannabis. Since 2019, OHE has awarded 455 Dual Training Grants representing an investment of over $28.6 million to advance the training of 4,169 employees throughout Minnesota.

About UMN Crookston

The University of Minnesota Crookston is one of five campuses in the prestigious University of Minnesota System offering students an exceptional, hands-on learning experience in a safe, close-knit community. Known for its #1 best value ranking, NCAA Division II athletics, affordable tuition, #1 ranked dorms, and a supportive environment, UMN Crookston provides personalized attention and mentorship to help you thrive academically and professionally. With over 75 programs to choose from, including both on-campus and online options, you'll find a path that fits your goals at UMN Crookston. Small Campus. Big Degree. The Best of Both Worlds. Learn more at www.umcrookston.edu.

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