SteeleCo. Works adds to local workforce
The 2023 SteeleCo. Works Signing Day was all about this moment, when 14 of the 16 new employees signed their letters of intent to join local businesses. Seated, from right, the students are Breanna Arndt, Natalie Brandt, Felicia Wood, Tegin Schroeder, Katrina Butler, Damon Erickson, Newman Interian, Carter Strawmatt, Abdi Moussa, Sadam Dahir, Alfons Cantu, Brady Hansen, Sierra Spindler, and Mikayla Martinez (completely hidden). The business representatives behind them are, from right, Gregg Schwartz, David Troska, Aaron Halla, Cayce Craig, Patrick McDermott, Tom Peterson, Dawn Abel, and Amanda Johnson. Staff photo by Kay Fate
A year ago this time, Matt Beck was signing a work contract as a newly-minted Owatonna High School graduate.
Now, he’s joking around with a state senator – and yes, the two incidents are related.
In May 2022, Beck signed on with Advanced Coil Technologies, one of 13 students who secured a job during the SteeleCo. Works Signing Day.
The program is a collaboration between the Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Steele County, the four school districts in the county, Workforce Development, and the area’s business community.
It’s designed to help young people find local employment opportunities – especially those for whom college is not the preferred route.
“If it wasn’t for this program, I honestly don’t know where I’d be today,” Beck said. “It’s open to anybody that needs the help. If you don’t have a job, they’ll help you. If you have four jobs and you can’t find the right one, they’ll help you. If you don’t want to go to a four-year school and pay lots and lots of money, they can help you find the right college.”
There’s plenty of help – much of it in the form of Brian Coleman, Career Pathways Navigator for Owatonna Public Schools.
“This past year, we’ve really focused on advanced manufacturing; however, we are moving forward with IT, agriculture, and health sciences,” he said of the work opportunities during the 2023 Signing Day last week.
“If we didn’t have employers … willing to invest in our youth, we wouldn’t be able to do this,” Coleman said.
“There’s a lot happening, and we’re really excited about where things are going,” said Brad Meier, president of the OACC.
Since the 2022 Signing Day, 85 businesses engaged with students in some way, whether it was a tour, a job shadow, mentoring internships, or job opportunities, said Missy Koch, the new coordinator of Workforce Development.
“Those numbers are proof that this program is needed,” she said.
Also present at the event were Rep. John Petersburg (R-Waseca) and Sen. John Jasinski (R-Faribault), who championed the Earn to Learn bill in this year’s legislative session.
That provided a $1.1 million grant for OPS to develop a mechatronics lab for advanced manufacturing, robotics, and engineering, “and will give students the first-hand tools and a relevant education they can take with them,” said OPS Superintendent Jeff Elstad.
The appropriation bill was sponsored by Jasinski “to help the Owatonna and Steele County region grow and retain a talented workforce” – including people like Beck, and the 16 new graduates – who are now part of that group.
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2023 SteeleCo. Works Signing Day
Students, their schools, and their employers:
Mikayla Martinez, Blooming Prairie High School – Blooming Prairie Youth Club
Sierra Spindler, Owatonna High School – Central Farm Service
Brady Hansen, OHS – Climate by Design, Inc.
Alfons Cantu, OHS – CDI
Sadam Dahir, OHS – CDI
Abdi Moussa, OHS – CDI
Carter Strawmatt, OHS – CDI
LeVant Shaw, Owatonna Alternative Learning Center – CDI
Hemi Reno, ALC – CDI
Newman Interian, OHS – CDI
Damon Erickson, OHS – Federated Insurance
Katrina Butler, OHS – Federated Insurance
Tegin Schroeder, OHS – Halla Construction & Landscaping
Felicia Wood, OHS – Kwik Trip
Natalie Brandt, BPHS – Predictive Technologies, Inc.
Breanna Arndt, OHS – Wenger Corporation