Minnesota State positioned as anchor partner in regional tech workforce partnerships

Allison Lisonbee, representing America Achieves, told the Minnesota State Board of Trustees on Monday that national tech-hub and sector-partnership work offers a model for Minnesota as the state seeks to align higher education, employers and workforce bodies.

Lisonbee said America Achieves has advised coalitions in New York, Virginia and Montana and described the role of a “backbone” organization that helps build governance, bylaws and sustainable funding. "At America Achieves, we have been guiding this work by helping them map the assets and resources that they'll need in order to, fulfill the workforce intermediary functions, in in the region," she said.

The presentation explained why Minnesota State is viewed as a critical partner for scaling workforce pipelines tied to CHIPS, medtech and other tech hubs. "We want Minnesota to win," said Ayesha McKenzie Collins of Greater MSP Partnership, who described Greater MSP’s role as a convenor and “backbone” organization in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul region. She added that local firms such as Polar Semiconductor in Bloomington have signaled demand for thousands of jobs and are working with two Minnesota State colleges to develop requested curricula.

Katie McClelland, Executive Director of the Governor's Workforce Development Board and Senior Advisor at the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, framed the work as a way to shorten time to employment by improving feedback loops between employers and training providers. "There are currently 10 jobs open for every 6 people looking for jobs," she said, arguing that real-time information from employers can help colleges place students more quickly into in-demand jobs.

Speakers described three common governance tasks for successful sector partnerships: identifying the appropriate backbone convener in each community (which can be an economic development organization, community college, or workforce board), defining roles and decision-making through bylaws or operating agreements, and securing sustainable funding beyond initial federal seed grants. Presenters said federal catalytic grants often fund start-up activity but leave questions about sustaining staffing and coordination after year four or five.

Panelists urged employers to contribute to sustaining backbone capacity. "The employers who are trying to establish these emerging industries really have a stake in the game and really need to be the ones investing in getting this off the ground," said Lisonbee, noting some employers are already helping to fund coalition coordination in other states.

Trustees and campus leaders asked about practical steps and resource needs. Board members emphasized the system’s statewide reach — including campuses in rural and urban areas — and the need for clarity about responsibilities and protections when partners coordinate across multiple institutions. Trustee comments also raised workforce inclusion issues; one trustee pressed speakers on expanding hiring approaches for neurodivergent candidates, citing high unemployment rates for people on the autism spectrum. Presenters replied that some CHIPS and other partnerships have funded demonstrations and targeted grants to test nontraditional pipelines and hiring practices.

The presentation closed with Minnesota State staff indicating the system will engage presidents, colleges and departments as the work moves forward. No formal action or vote was taken on the partnership; the item was presented for information and discussion.