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Northcentral Planning Council seeks county contribution for mobile career-exploration van
Summary
The Northcentral Planning Council requested $67,397 to continue a mobile career exploration program; Ramsey County’s share would be $9,837 for 2026 if the commission chooses to support it.
Sandy Shibley, executive director of the Northcentral Planning Council, presented a request for Ramsey County to join other local match providers in funding continuation of a mobile career-exploration program that operated under an RWIP grant.
Shibley said the original RWIP grant that purchased and retrofitted the van and paid a job coach ended in December 2024. The council provided a modest proposed operating budget of $67,397 for calendar year 2026 and said the cost share is apportioned by population across participating counties and cities. "For 1 year for Ramsey County, it would be $9,837," Shibley said; she added that when the county was approached previously the ask had been $5,000 but that grant funds previously available are not in hand now.
Anne Stallard, job coach for the mobile career exploration classroom, described the program’s goals and what it does in area schools: career exploration with virtual-reality job videos, on-site job shadows and coordination with local employers and school counselors. Stallard said the program is focused on keeping students in the region by connecting juniors and seniors with local career options and training pathways; she said the program does not track direct job placements but does track job-shadowing and career-exploration activities.
Commissioners asked whether the county needed to commit funds at the meeting and were told a commitment was not required immediately; the funding requested is for calendar year 2026 and invoices would be sent in December if the county agreed. No formal motion or vote to fund the proposal was taken at the meeting.
Shibley said the council is exploring applying again for RWIP funds when the program opens, but noted past rounds did not allow continuation funding for already-operating programs and that any future RWIP application would likely fund additional program elements rather than basic operating costs.
The commission took no formal action at the meeting; commissioners said they would review the budget packet and could follow up with questions before deciding.
