NEW ULM – The New Ulm Economic Development Authority (EDA) agreed to provide $80,000 in funding over the next two years to New Ulm Public Schools to assist with hiring a Career Technical Education (CTE) Center Coordinator.

New Ulm Public Schools (NUPS) originally opened its CTE Center at 208 N. Valley Street in 2021. The purpose of the center is to educate students who are looking to learn a trade or technical skills. The CTE Center was opened as an extension to NUP’ technical classes as well as further vocational training. However, the center is currently without a coordinator.

Recently, the CTE development committee started a campaign to fund the coordinator position through donations from the community.

Superintendent Sean Koster attended the EDA’s board meeting Tuesday with a funding request of between $50,000 and $80,000 over the next two years for the position. The idea is to get the coordinator position funded for the first few years, then use grant funding to keep it self sustaining.

The full cost of funding the coordinator position for two years is $240,000. NUPS already has a financial commitment from the school district, a commitment from South Central Service Cooperative (SCSC) through Perkins funding.

“I am here today to talk about a partnership between the EDA and New Ulm Public Schools (NUPS),” Koster said. “I see this as an intersection between education and economic development.”

About 60% of NUPS students go on to a four-year school with the other 40% staying in New Ulm.

“What we are really focusing on is how do we retain a workforce here in New Ulm and how do we train them for work around the area,” Koster said.

EDA board member David Christian was fully in support of funding the CTE coordinator position. He believed this fell in line with the EDA’s strategic goals.

“I love that this CTE Center is in New Ulm,” he said. “I like the idea of our youth coming back to New Ulm as entrepreneurs.”

EDA board member Andrea Boettger also strongly supported funding the coordinator position. She said it was common knowledge there was a gap in the number of hands-on trade workers needed for the current economy. In addition, she thought by providing CTE training in high school, students would be exposed to variety of trade skills to try before heading into the workforce.

Boettger had few additional questions about the funding for coordinator position. She asked if the requested funding would directly cover the coordinators salary and what plan the school had to keep the program self sustaining after two years.

Koster confirmed the funding request would directly cover the coordinator salary. He said the goal was to raise enough money to fund the position for at least two years with the intention to write grants to secure ongoing funding beyond two years.

Boettger asked if they had a candidate in mind to fill the coordinator position.

Koster said they did have a candidate in mind. Following the recent budget reductions in the district, some positions in the school’s CTE department are being restructured and one of the current school staff could be moved into the coordinator position.

Boettger asked if NUPS was seeking assistance from the local business community and whether their was additional support.

Koster said he believed the school had the support of the local business community. The business community has already helped raised funds for equipment at the CTE Center. In addition, they plan to seek support from businesses outside of New Ulm including Sleepy Eye, Gibbon and other surrounding community. Koster said some of the internship programs run through the school’s CTE program operated outside of New Ulm.

EDA board member Lindsay Henn asked what the CTE program looks like now in terms of student enrollment.

Koster said the internship and apprenticeship program is popular with students, but programming at the CTE building could be expanded in terms of robotics, welding and metal fabrication.

He said there are about 120 students in the CTE program every day. Some are at the high school, some are at the center.

There were 20 students from Cathedral High School (CHS) taking part in the internship program. There typically between six and eight students from CHS and Minnesota Valley Lutheran each semester in CTE classes.

Koster said the coordinator position would help serve as a connection between the district and local businesses.

Henn said she supported the CTE Center as a concept and felt it was appropriate for the EDA to continuing support the center. The EDA provided some of the initial funding to start the Center.

Boettger initially suggested committing $65,000 in funding for the CTE Center. She suggested giving $40,000 in the first year and $25,000 the second year with the option of giving more based on need.

Henn suggested it would be better to give the full request of $80,000 split by $40,000 each year. She said by giving the full $80,000 it would show the community the EDA was backing the CTE Center and could convince others in the business community to support the position.

Boettger agreed and made the motion to help fund the CTE coordinator position by $40,000 a year for two years with a second from Christian. The motion unanimously passed.