College gets cannabis training funding

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced 19 workforce development grants totaling over $2.9 million to eight Minnesota educational institutions that are partnering with Minnesota businesses to develop and deliver customized workforce training programs. Grantees expect to train more than 4,000 workers through these programs.

Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College received a $30,654 predevelopment grant for a partnership with Fond du Lac Band Cannabis Corp., a startup company opening a cannabis cultivation and manufacturing facility. It will supply medical and adult-use cannabis products ranging from flower to edibles and concentrates.

Training programs to address the newly emerging industry’s specific needs are limited in Minnesota. The college and Fond du Lac Band Cannabis Corp will collaborate with national and state cannabis industry partners and private agriculture industry partners to identify the industry’s specific training needs and begin developing a curriculum that will initially focus on agricultural and manufacturing operations, including preparing employees to operate industry-specific equipment such as fluid systems, trim machines and drying racks. Additional training needs areas will also be explored.