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Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs seeks workforce development funding for statewide youth programs
Summary
Senate File 19-33 would fund the Minnesota Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs to expand youth job skills, career navigation and workforce readiness programming at club sites across the state, including tribal reservation communities and urban centers.
Senate File 19-33 proposes appropriations of $1,250,000 in FY2026 and $1,250,000 in FY2027 (one-time) from the Workforce Development Fund to the Minnesota Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs to support youth workforce development across the Alliances 67 sites statewide.
Sponsor Senator Champion told the committee the Alliances network serves over 30,000 children and teens at club sites that include reservation communities (e.g., Red Lake, White Earth) and urban locations (Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth, Rochester). The requested funds would support job exploration, skills training and career navigation tools. The fiscal analyst confirmed the request and noted past one-time General Fund support of $2,000,000 in FY2024-25; the bill includes a 25% non-state match requirement.
Speakers described program elements and results. Brian Donaldson, executive director of the Minnesota Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs, said the clubs and DEED have partnered for more than 15 years on youth workforce programming and that 95% of club teens believe they have the skills needed to succeed in the workplace. CJ Jackson, branch director at Jerry Gamble Boys and Girls Club in Minneapolis, described year-round Money Matters and Career Launch programming, the Pathways to Careers navigator tool, and an in-club pilot giving youth hands-on experience. Club member Hang Charles, now a college freshman majoring in HVAC, testified that workforce exposure at the club influenced his college major and career path.
The committee laid Senate File 19-33 over for possible inclusion; the bill requires a 25% non-state match and includes selection and implementation details to be managed by the Alliance and DEED.
