Media Advisory



Contact: Keith Hovis

651-308-2252

[email protected]




October 24, 2025

Previous Announcements [ [link removed] ]

 





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*Commissioners Blissenbach and Olson to Tour Dual Training Grant Program at The Aagard Group in Alexandria *

*St. Paul, Minn.— *Earlier this month, Governor Tim Walz declared October to be Manufacturing Month [ [link removed] ]. To highlight one of Minnesota’s many homegrown manufacturing companies, Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) Commissioner Nicole Blissenbach and Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE) Commissioner Dennis Olson will tour The Aagard Group in Alexandria, Minnesota this Monday, October 27.

Specializing in packaging automation systems, Aagard is a recipient of the Dual Training Grant (DTG), which reimburses grantees for expenses related to instruction toward attaining an industry-recognized degree, certificate or credential for their employees. The company currently has 17 employees receiving training with grant funds.

During the visit, Commissioners Blissenbach and Olson will sit down for a discussion with Aagard leadership, employees who have benefited from DTG, and representatives from Alexandria Technical and Community College about their experience with the DTG program.

Media are invited to attend.

*What:* Tour of Aagard, a Dual Training Grant recipient

*Where: *Aagard, 3711 Iowa St, Alexandria, MN 56308

*When:* Monday, October 27 from 10:00 -11:15 am

*Who: *


* DLI Commissioner Nicole Blissenbach
* OHE Commissioner Dennis Olson
* Aagard President Brad VanderTuin and other company representatives
* Aagard employees and dual trainees
* Sara Fier, Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs, Alexandria Technical and Community College
* Sean Johns, Dean of Educational Services, Alexandria Technical and Community College

*Agenda:*


* 10:00 – 10:40 am – Commissioner Blissenbach and Olson discussion with trainees, company and some training providers
* 10:40 – 10:45am – Group photos
* 10:45 – 11:10am – Facility tour
* 11:10 – 11:15am – Press availability

*About the Dual Training Grant*

In support of the implementation of the *Minnesota Dual-Training Pipeline* [ [link removed] ] administered by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (*DLI* [ [link removed] ]), the 2015 Minnesota Legislature established the Dual Training Grant administered by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education. 

The Dual Training Grant is a funding source that generates collaborative and strategic educational solutions between employers and related instruction training providers across Minnesota. Employers or organizations of employers may apply for grants to reimburse expenses related to instruction toward attaining an industry-recognized degree, certificate or credential for their employees.

This year, OHE awarded a total of $5.044 million in DTG funding to 80 Minnesota businesses. [ [link removed] ] The funds will allow companies in high-demand industries to fund dual training programs for 902 employees.

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