This bill proposes funding for workforce development initiatives in Minnesota by allocating $2 million for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to the Center for African Immigrants and Refugees Organization (CAIRO) to implement the Gateways2Growth Initiative. The initiative focuses on expanding training programs in three key workforce sectors:

1. Information Technology (IT) – Expanding access to training in full-stack development, cybersecurity, and business analysis, with partnerships for hiring and paid internships.
2. Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Training – Addressing Minnesota’s transportation workforce shortage by expanding CDL training opportunities and partnering with trucking companies for job placements and apprenticeships.
3. Health Care Workforce Development – Training certified nursing assistants, phlebotomists, pharmacy technicians, and other essential health care professionals, while collaborating with health care providers to support job placement, credentialing, and licensure.

The grant funds must be distributed equally between programs inside and outside the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. Priority is given to individuals from historically underserved communities, displaced workers seeking career transitions, and underemployed individuals aiming for high-demand career paths.

The bill mandates oversight and reporting requirements, requiring CAIRO and the Commissioner of Employment and Economic Development to submit an annual report detailing program enrollment, employment outcomes, wage growth, regional distribution of participants, and recommendations for expansion. The report must also measure program success by tracking job placements, wage growth, retention rates, and workforce shortage reductions in the targeted industries.