Contact: Katryn Conlin, Communications Director
651-385-6364, [email protected]

For Immediate Release

Bay State Milling pledges financial support over the next three years to Minnesota State College Southeast's Advanced Manufacturing Infrastructure Initiative

Winona, MN (October 30, 2019) -- Minnesota State College Southeast is proud to announce that Bay State Milling has joined the large number of regional businesses that support the college's Advanced Manufacturing Infrastructure Initiative. Bay State Milling has pledged a generous financial commitment over the next three years to assist the college in building a more robust learning environment for students in manufacturing-related programs.

Bay State Milling is a family-owned company that produces traditional bakery, rye, gluten free and organic flours as well as many innovative plant based food ingredients. The company's deep roots in Winona date all the way back to 1899, when the Porter Mill was purchased and re-named Bay State Milling Company.

The close ties between Bay State Milling and Minnesota State College Southeast are seen in in the numbers of alumni who work at the company and current employees who are enrolled at the college.

"We support the efforts of MSC Southeast to provide our community with exceptional education programs," said Plant Manager Al Simanovski. "We truly believe programs such as these are important, not just to us as manufacturers, but to provide people with critical skills necessary to be successful in a rapidly changing work environment."

The Advanced Manufacturing Infrastructure Initiative (AMII), a product of local businesses, community advocates, and the college's leadership, was launched in February 2019. The purpose is to overhaul the college's advanced manufacturing education capabilities and provide state-of-the-art equipment for years to come.

Following the ribbon cutting in August 2019 of the CNC/Advanced Manufacturing Lab, work continues at the college, particularly in expanding capabilities in Mechatronics, a new program that includes training in robotics and human-machine interfaces.

"Investments such as this three-year pledge from Bay State Milling will help us further develop resources for students such as the Industrial Automation Laboratory and the Advanced Manufacturing Lab," said Interim President Larry Lundblad. "Our business partners are helping to make MSC Southeast one of the most technologically sophisticated two-year colleges in the state of Minnesota."

To date, the college has received close to $1 million in direct financial support, in-kind donations and pledges towards the Advanced Manufacturing Infrastructure Initiative. Individual and corporate donors include:  

• Bay State Milling
• Benchmark Electronics
• DCM Technology
• Elizabeth Callender King Foundation
• Fastenal
• Merchants Bank
• MiEnergy Cooperative
• Miller Ingenuity
• Jerry & Pat Papenfuss
• Peerless Industrial Group
• PlastiCert
• RTP Company
• Slaggie Family Foundation
• Stone Machinery
• Thern, Inc.
• WNB Financial
• Watlow
• Winona Area Industrial Development Association

Photo Caption: MSC Southeast Interim President Larry Lundblad (left) met with Bay State Milling Plant Manager Al Simanovski on October 23, 2019 to accept a three-year pledge of support for the college's  Advanced Manufacturing Infrastructure Initiative.

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About Minnesota State College Southeast

Minnesota State College Southeast is a two-year technical and community college that prepares students for a lifetime of learning by providing education for employment, skill enhancement, retraining, and transfer, to meet the needs of students and the community. The Winona campus opened in 1949, merging with the Red Wing campus in 1992 and updating its name to Minnesota State College Southeast in 2016 with the change of mission to offer both technical training and the associate of arts degree. Minnesota State College Southeast is a member of Minnesota State. For more information, visit www.southeastmn.one.