AgStar awards Workforce Development with Grant
$5,000 grant given to support Healthcare Academy
MANKATO, Minn. (May 25, 2011) – The AgStar Fund for Rural America, a corporate giving program of AgStar Financial Services, recently presented Workforce Development, Inc. (WDI) with a $5,000 grant.
WDI is a private, non-profit agency dedicated to developing and advancing the workforce in southeast Minnesota by serving the needs of job seekers and employers. WDI services are focused on low-income and disadvantaged populations dealing with multiple barriers to achieving meaningful employment.
WDI will use the grant to help support low-income people by providing access to its Healthcare Academy who cannot afford to pay for the courses, certification testing and fees associated with becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CAN). The CAN is the first rung on the career ladder for the rural healthcare industry. Healthcare facilities rely on their local communities as the source of a well-trained workforce who understands the demands and culture of caring for the aged. The Healthcare Academy has proven to decrease turnover by screening people both into and out of the healthcare field and preventing the wasting of resources.
“Partnering with organizations that are aligned with our mission to enhance the quality of life in rural America is important to the AgStar Fund,” said John Monson, Chair of the Fund for Rural America. “We are honored to award this grant to support Workforce Development and its work as it continues to make a positive impact in our rural communities.”
Overall, AgStar awarded $91,000 to a total of 22 organizations this year. Each year, from October through the end of November, the AgStar Fund for Rural America accepts grant applications for up to $10,000. Grant money is used for project or program support, technical assistance, general operating support or equipment. The Fund was created to extend AgStar’s commitment to the communities in which we work and live. Since its inception in 2001, more than $3 million has been donated by the Fund.
About AgStar:
AgStar Financial Services, ACA, headquartered in Mankato, Minn., employs more than 600 full-time team members. The company is part of the national Farm Credit System and has a public mission to serve 69 counties in Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin. AgStar’s industry specialization, client segments and market delivery systems result in diversification nationwide. The company has expertise in the corn, soybean, swine, dairy and bio-energy industries. AgStar has developed successful programs in loans, leases, crop insurance, tax services, accounting, consulting and rural home mortgages. As a value-added financial services cooperative, AgStar allocates patronage dividends to its more than 13,000 stockholders. Visit www.AgStar.com for more information.
Contact: Melanie Olson
Melanie.Olson@AgStar.com
952-997-1255
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