Minnesota Job Skills Partnership (MJSP)
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)
Up to 50% of training costs
MN matches half your training cost — college must co-apply
Minnesota reimburses half the cost of customized job training for workers at expanding or at-risk Minnesota businesses — but the employer must partner with a college or training organization that co-applies. The educational institution applies and provides 50% of project costs; the state matches. Projects typically fund $50K–$400K in training over 12–24 months.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- State
- Amount range
- $10,000 – $200,000
- Realistic amount
- $50,000–$150,000 state contribution for a typical training project
- Deadline
- Rolling — DEED accepts applications year-round and reviews on a rolling basis. No fixed cycles.
- Status
- active
- States
- MN
- Payment model
- reimbursement
Who qualifies
- Employer must be a Minnesota business that is expanding OR at risk of workforce reduction without training investment
- Employer must partner with an eligible educational institution (community college, university, vocational school, or DEED-approved training organization) — the institution is the applicant and fiscal agent
- The educational partner must contribute at least 50% of total project costs (cash or in-kind)
- Training must be customized to the employer's specific skill needs — not generic coursework
- Workers being trained must be Minnesota-based employees
- Any industry eligible; priority to high-demand, high-wage occupations
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Training instructor salaries and fees
- Curriculum development costs
- Training materials and supplies
- Facility costs for training delivery
- Educational institution administrative overhead (capped)
Ineligible expenses
- Trainee wages during training
- Training for employees outside Minnesota
- Generic coursework not customized to the employer
- Equipment for production use (not training delivery)
- Pre-employment screening or recruiting costs
How to apply
-
1
Find an educational partner
Identify a Minnesota community college, university, technical college, or DEED-approved training organization willing to co-apply. The institution will be the formal applicant and must commit to covering 50% of project costs. Many colleges actively seek employer partners for MJSP.
~3 hrs
-
2
Design customized training curriculum
Work with the college to design training specific to your workforce needs — skills gaps, job titles, hours, delivery method. The curriculum must be customized; off-the-shelf coursework does not qualify.
~10 hrs
-
3
Educational partner submits DEED application
The college submits the MJSP application to DEED on behalf of the employer-college partnership. Application includes training plan, budget, employer commitment letter, and the college's 50% match documentation.
~8 hrs
-
4
DEED review and award
DEED reviews on a rolling basis. Review typically takes 4–8 weeks. Successful applications receive a grant contract with the educational institution as fiscal agent.
~1 hrs
-
5
Deliver training and submit progress reports
College delivers training. Quarterly progress reports required. Funds are drawn as training is delivered and documented. Contract period is typically 12–24 months.
~8 hrs
The college applies, not you — contact your regional community or technical college first. They know the process and often have MJSP experience. The 50% match can be in-kind (faculty time) not just cash.
Deadline & timing
MJSP has no application deadlines or intake windows. Applications are submitted by the educational partner at any time and reviewed on a rolling basis by DEED. Funding is subject to availability of the annual legislative appropriation. Projects with high-demand sector alignment tend to move faster.
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Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.