In addition to the benefits received by UMC and its workforce, this grant will allow Anoka-Ramsey Community College to expand curriculum which, in turn, will provide additional potential training opportunities for the growing bio-medical industry and incumbent workers looking to advance their careers or open doors to new opportunities.

Anoka-Ramsey has had a Biomedical Technology program since 1999, however, the college continues to redesign the program curriculum and develop new certificates and degrees based on the evolving industry needs.  For example, the college’s work with UMC will result in new curriculum and customized training for increasingly stringent regulatory requirements.  Developing expertise in this area may lead to a new certificate in Regulatory Standards. 


More About Minnesota Job Skills Partnership Grants
This grant marks the college’s 36th MJSP grant. Collectively, the college has now secured more than $8.9 million in MJSP funding to provide training to area businesses that need to reposition for the ever-changing marketplace.

The Minnesota Jobs Skills Partnership (MJSP) program is designed to strategically help Minnesota businesses and schools competitively train the workforce. Grants are awarded by the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership Board to educational institutions, such as Anoka-Ramsey Community College, that partner with businesses to develop new-job training or retraining for existing employees.

All MJSP-funded training projects pair at least one public/private accredited Minnesota educational institution and one business. Funds are dedicated for training-related costs or educational infrastructure improvements necessary to support businesses located or intending to locate in Minnesota. A cash or in-kind contribution from the contributing business must match program funds on at least a one-to-one ratio.

More About UMC
Ultra Machining Company (UMC) has been a precision manufacturer of machined parts and assemblies, which serve the medical device and aviation industries, since 1968. UMC has a variety of customers that serve world-wide markets and make a wide range of products for such companies as Medtronic, Possis Medical and other national and international firms.

The MJSP grant will develop programs for UMC that will bring regulatory compliance training to all employees, a very important standard when working with bio-medical companies.  Other training will include: automation to relieve workers from the most repetitive work tasks; systems training of the complex and sophisticated manufacturing systems used by UMC; training in performance management and a comprehensive training program in technical skills. The grant will benefit Anoka-Ramsey by developing new training solutions to increase efficiencies in an increasingly regulated industry.