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30000 Feet asks for continued support to expand youth tech and workforce programming
Summary
Sen. Hurd presented SF 2292 requesting $400,000 per year (assumed ongoing) to support 30000 Feet’s expanded youth apprenticeship, internship and literacy interventions; the committee approved an oral amendment changing the source to the workforce development fund and laid the bill over for possible inclusion.
Sen. Hurd presented Senate File 2292 seeking continued and expanded funding for 30000 Feet, a nonprofit youth workforce and education hub based in Saint Paul. Fiscal staff said the bill proposes $400,000 in FY2025 and $400,000 in FY2026 and indicated prior awards to 30000 Feet totaling $1.3 million from earlier funds.
Program described: Vanessa Young, co-founder and director of programs, told the committee that 30000 Feet provides paid work opportunities, training, internships and soft-skills development for youth, serving alternative school students and others through hybrid programming. She said the organization currently pays more than 200 youth per year and maintains a wait list.
Student testimony: Robert Clark, an 18-year-old former student, told the committee he had four years of participation and earned industry certifications (Python and JavaScript) and planned to enter an HVAC apprenticeship and union job. He described nontechnical gains — punctuality, communication and responsibility — as key program benefits.
Literacy and summer learning: The sponsor and 30000 Feet representatives said the proposal includes literacy interventions and summer-learning-loss prevention supports for participants who are behind grade level; they said those services prepare youth to access technical training and work-readiness programs.
Committee action: Senator Hurd offered and the committee adopted an oral amendment to change the appropriation source from the general fund to the workforce development fund; SF 2292, as amended, was laid over for possible inclusion.
