One of Minnesota State College – Southeast Technical’s most in-demand programs, welding technology, will be able to accept 20 percent more students on an annual basis starting fall 2013 with the help of a recent state funding award.

Through the Legislative Leveraged Equipment Funds initiative, Southeast Technical will receive $12,000 in state funds that, along with a match from the Minnesota State College – Southeast Technical Foundation and an in-kind contribution from Mississippi Welders Supply, will purchase $28,000 worth of welding equipment and associated tools. As the welding technology program plans to relocate from Southeast Technical’s airport campus to a larger space on the college’s main Winona campus this spring, the new equipment and tools will allow the program to expand from 20 welding booths to 24, thereby allowing the program to accommodate more students.

“This initiative hits all the right notes. It’s state and local, public and private, education and industry, with all partners responding to each other and working together for the benefit of our students. The Legislature, Gov. Dayton and participating businesses deserve our thanks,” said Southeast Technical President Jim Johnson.

According to Southeast Technical’s industry partners, skilled welders are consistently in high-demand. With increased instruction space that will allow for more welding program graduates, the college aims to close this skills gap, which is what attracted Mississippi Welders Supply to participate in the initiative.

“We know that Southeast Technical’s welding students are our future,” said Mississippi Welders Supply store manager Paul Hengel. “Who knows when the next graduate will turn into the next business owner?  We’ve always been involved in education and want to support students in the same way we support our customers.”

Passed by the Minnesota Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Mark Dayton this May, the Legislative Leveraged Equipment Funds initiative is a one-time appropriation of $457,000 to Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) for the “leveraged” acquisition of equipment for instructional programs that produce graduates with skills in high-demand occupations. Southeast Technical is one of 15 MnSCU institutions to receive an award.