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Senate committee hears funding request for International Institutes medical career pathway
Summary
The Senate Jobs and Economic Development Committee heard testimony supporting Senate File 19-19, which would provide one-time workforce-fund appropriations to the International Institute of Minnesota to continue its Medical Career Pathway serving refugees and immigrants.
Senate File 19-19, a proposal to fund the International Institute of Minnesotas medical career pathway, was presented Tuesday to the Minnesota Senate Committee on Jobs and Economic Development. The bill seeks one-time appropriations of $550,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $550,000 in fiscal year 2027 from the Workforce Development Fund to support training for nursing assistants and other medical career advancement programs.
The International Institutes program serves refugees and immigrants with language, education and employment services aimed at integrating new Americans into Minnesotas workforce. Senator Hur, the bill sponsor, told the committee the institute has served new arrivals for more than a century and emphasized the programs role in training healthcare workers. Fiscal testimony from the committees analyst noted prior state funding: $700,000 in FY 2022-23 from the Workforce Development Fund and $1,100,000 in FY 2024-25 from the General Fund.
Advocates described program outcomes and employer demand. Jane Grotman, executive director of the International Institute of Minnesota, said the Medical Career Pathway has produced roughly 3,495 graduates over two decades, including nursing assistants now earning $20.78 per hour and graduates who advanced to registered nursing positions earning between $41 and $48 per hour. She told the committee the nursing assistant program had a 97% course graduation rate last year and an 80% one-year job retention rate tracked over five years.
Nicole Matson, vice president of strategic initiatives for Care Providers of Minnesota, said the long-term care sector currently has more than 12,500 job vacancies and relies on programs that prepare nursing assistants, nurses and support staff. Matson said immigrants and refugees make up about 26% of the states direct care workforce and that the International Institutes trainings help employers meet immediate hiring needs and provide career advancement pathways.
Committee members praised the bill and asked about sponsorship and participation; Senator Nelson expressed support and interest in cosponsoring. Senator Hur closed by requesting the bill be laid over for possible inclusion.
The committee laid Senate File 19-19 over for possible inclusion. No vote was taken during the hearing.
