FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Minnesota State Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence Awards Over $41,000 to Boost Student Access to Minnesota Manufacturing Tours  

BEMIDJI, MN — The Minnesota State Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence is proud to announce awards of over $41,000 in funding to support student transportation to manufacturing tours across the state. This significant investment, a result of dedicated fundraising efforts by the Center and a Perkins Leadership grant, will remove a key barrier for K-12 schools, ensuring more students can experience modern manufacturing facilities firsthand.  

This initiative is a critical component of the annual Minnesota Manufactured Statewide Tour, held throughout the year, with a specific focus on the month of October in celebration of Minnesota Manufacturing Month. The Statewide Tour provides an invaluable opportunity for students and the community to visit local manufacturers and manufacturing education programs, learn about the innovation and technology within the advanced manufacturing, and discover the rewarding careers it offers. In return, manufacturers gain vital exposure and connections with their future workforce. The transportation funding directly contributes to the Statewide Tour's accessibility, ensuring that more students have the opportunity to participate.  

"The transportation sponsorship you provided plays a vital role in making this opportunity accessible—without it, many schools would not be able to attend and experience firsthand the innovation, creativity, and career possibilities within the world of manufacturing,” said Sarah Carrigan, assistant director of the South Central Workforce Council. “Our local planning committee is truly grateful for your commitment to support students.”  

Regions across Minnesota apply for funding, and based upon need, strength of application, and available funding, are awarded funds for supporting transportation expenses. The funds are distributed across Minnesota, ensuring that the initiative impacts every region of the state. By providing targeted funding for transportation, the Center of Excellence is empowering schools from all corners of Minnesota to participate in the Statewide Tour, inspiring a diverse and geographically widespread pool of future manufacturing talent.  

"By directly supporting these busing efforts, we are making a tangible impact and ensuring that students from across Minnesota have the opportunity to see what modern manufacturing pathways and careers truly are," said Jeremy Leffelman, executive director at the Center of Excellence. "It’s an investment in our students, our industry, and the future of our state."  

The success of this transportation funding is a testament to the power of collaboration. The Center of Excellence actively seeks partners and sponsors to join this crucial initiative and help it expand its reach. By contributing to this initiative, you are making a direct investment in Minnesota's future workforce, ensuring that even more students can discover and access life-changing manufacturing careers.   

 “Every sponsorship dollar directly translates into more bus rides, more students on tour, and a stronger talent pipeline for the manufacturing industry,” said Jaimee Duffy, director of marketing and outreach at the Center of Excellence. “We invite you to become a partner and help us continue to inspire the next generation of Minnesota's manufacturers.”   

To learn more about how you can contribute, visit the Center’s website at https://www.mnmfg.org/statewide-tour/ and consider sponsoring this vital program.  

For More Information   

For more information about the Minnesota Manufactured Statewide Tour, please contact Jaimee Duffy, director of marketing and outreach at the Minnesota State Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence at jaimee.duffy@minnstate.edu or (218) 755-2206 or Jeremy Leffelman, executive director of the Minnesota State Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence, at jeremy.leffelman@minnstate.edu or (218) 755-4222.   

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About the Minnesota Manufactured™ Statewide Tour  

The Minnesota Manufactured™ Statewide Tour is an annual initiative, fully supported by the Minnesota State Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence, located at Bemidji State University. The Center works closely with manufacturers, educators, and workforce development to plan, coordinate, and host tours throughout the year. This initiative highlights the exciting career opportunities and cutting-edge technology in Minnesota's manufacturing industry. During October's Manufacturing Month, manufacturers across the state plan and coordinate tours, open their doors to students, parents, and the general public, helping to inspire and recruit the next generation of manufacturing talent. Learn more at https://www.mnmfg.org/statewide-tour/.  

About the Minnesota State Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence   

Minnesota State Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence is one of eight Centers of Excellence throughout Minnesota State, the state college and university system that was developed to serve the needs of industry through education and outreach. The Center is located at Bemidji State University in Bemidji, MN and is an innovative, collaborative effort between education and industry to recruit, educate, and train workers for dynamic careers in advanced manufacturing. The Center collaborates with industry, education, and workforce development partners to foster innovation, enhance skills, and establish career pathways in advanced manufacturing.   

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