For Immediate Release

Dave Grant Program of the Year award goes to Foundations in Manufacturing, training program for detainees in Goodhue County Adult Detention Center developed by MSC Southeast

Photo: Goodhue County Sheriff Scott McNurlin, Lt. Mark Agre, Anthony Gale, Justin Heiden, Katie Hardyman Morem, Janet Adams, Chief Deputy Kris Johnson

Red Wing, MN (May 11, 2017) -- Each year the Minnesota Jail Programs and Services (MJPS) Executive Board asks facilities to nominate programs they feel are deserving of the Dave Grant Program of the Year award. This year, Foundations in Manufacturing, a program for detainees at the Goodhue County Adult Detention Center, was honored with the award. The program is made possible by a partnership with Goodhue County Adult Detention Center, Hiawatha Valley Adult Basic Education, the Red Wing Workforce Center, and Minnesota State College Southeast.

MJPS is a division of the Minnesota Sheriffs' Association, consisting of professionals who work with offenders in jails throughout the State of Minnesota. Their goal is to provide an environment for a safe, secure, and smooth operating jail where offenders can learn to become law-abiding citizens. 

The Dave Grant Program of the Year award recognizes programs in the jails based on four criteria: cost effectiveness; innovation; providing new skills; and utilization of community resources. Foundations in Manufacturing was funded through a Pathways to Prosperity Grant, a state grant through Hiawatha Valley ABE, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, and MSC Southeast. The college also partnered with Hennepin Technical College to deliver part of the curriculum.

Janet Adams nominated Foundations in Manufacturing for the award. "As the program coordinator of Goodhue County Adult Detention Center, I have been searching for and requesting programs like this for many years," she states. "The students graduated with two meaningful certificates, Manufacturing 101 and OSHA 10 for General Industry & Critical Soft Skills, after completing this three-week course. They thoroughly enjoyed the college instructors and the challenge that comes from college-level learning."

Through Foundations in Manufacturing participants earned two college credits at no expense to the county or to detainees. They gained skills and knowledge in manufacturing math, blueprint reading, lean manufacturing basics, safety rules, and OSHA policies. Soft skills are important to today's manufacturers, and the students worked on communications skills, problem solving, and effective listening. 

"We were so excited to partner with the Goodhue County Detention Center with our Foundations in Manufacturing program. The students were fabulous and really wanted to learn.  Some already knew where they wanted to work after they are released so we knew these new skills would be put to use in the very near future," notes Katie Hardyman Morem, Director of Business Relations at Minnesota State College Southeast.

"These students are better prepared to enter the work force with concrete skills, education specific to manufacturing, and certificates to back it up," Janet Adams adds. "I am hoping to continue our relationships with Hiawatha Valley ABE, Red Wing Workforce Center and MSC Southeast, and possibly add more programs like Foundations in Manufacturing."

"The manufacturing industry is in desperate need of workers who are choosing to fill open positions not just as a job but as a career -- workers who will show up on time, work well with others, and can take direction. Some of these students would be excellent candidates!  Our next step is to continue the education process with local employers regarding hiring individuals who have criminal records," Katie Hardyman Morem concludes.

For more information about the Dave Grant Program of the Year award, contact Janet Adams, [email protected] or 651-267-2815. For more information about Foundations in Manufacturing, contact Katie Hardyman, [email protected] or 651-267-7706.

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