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Neighbors Inc. seeks $7.75 million a year to expand regional workforce, hunger relief and community supports
Summary
Senate File 1300 would provide $7,750,000 per year to Neighbors Incorporated for workforce training, financial coaching and hunger‑relief programs across Dakota, Washington and Ramsey counties; the nonprofit said it serves over 5,000 households with food assistance and aims to expand training and credentialing pathways.
Senate File 1300 would appropriate $7,750,000 per fiscal year to Neighbors Incorporated to scale workforce development, financial empowerment and hunger‑relief services in a regional area covering Dakota, Washington and Ramsey counties.
Senator Klein, author of the bill, described Neighbors Inc. as a long‑standing regional nonprofit with three core program areas: financial empowerment (career navigation, financial coaching and grant products), hunger relief (choice model food shelf and delivery) and community supports (clothing, household goods and gift programs). Executive Director Dawn Wambach told the committee the organization partners with community colleges, employers and government and serves over 5,000 households through hunger relief programs.
Wambach said the requested funds would connect hundreds of low‑income youth and adults to credentialed career training and family‑sustaining jobs in high‑demand sectors including IT, healthcare, manufacturing and transportation. She highlighted a partnership that resulted in an employer hiring drivers with no prior experience at $67,000 annual salary.
A program participant, Nazar (testimony), described personal outcomes from Neighbors’ employment services and a matched savings program that combined participant savings with matched funds to help move toward business ownership. Committee members had no recorded objections; Senator Klein closed by asking members to support real‑world help to residents. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion.
