HF4026

Purpose

To provide targeted funding to support Wallin Education Partners’ career-focused programs. The bill aims to help underresourced participants gain career exposure, develop skills, receive mentoring, and build a direct pathway into employment, particularly in construction and health care.

Main Provisions

• One-time appropriation of $750,000 in fiscal year 2027 from the Workforce Development Fund.
• Source and recipient: Funds go to the commissioner of employment and economic development (DEED) to grant Wallin Education Partners.
• Program support: The grant funds Wallin’s career development program, which includes career exploration, skill building, mentoring, direct talent pipeline development, and early employment readiness for underresourced participants.
• Expansion option: Money may be used to expand Wallin’s construction and health care pathways programs, which offer advising, hands-on learning, and work-based experience to prepare participants for careers in construction, health care, and related fields.
• Onetime nature: This appropriation is explicitly described as a one-time funding action.

Implementation and Oversight

• Administration: Funds are to be managed by the commissioner of employment and economic development (DEED) and disbursed as a grant to Wallin Education Partners.
• Timing: The funding is designated for fiscal year 2027.

Significance / Changes to Law

• Creates a new one-time funding line: A specific $750,000 appropriation from the Workforce Development Fund to Wallin Education Partners, for a defined program and potential expansion.
• Not a permanent/ongoing funding change: Described as a single-year appropriation rather than a continuing budget item.

Additional context

• Focus areas include career exploration, mentoring, and work-based experiences designed to move underresourced individuals toward employment, with explicit pathways in construction and health care.

Relevant Terms Wallin Education Partners; career development program; career exploration; skill building; mentoring; direct talent pipeline development; early employment readiness; underresourced participants; construction pathways program; health care pathways program; advising; hands-on learning; work-based learning/experience; Workforce Development Fund; commissioner of employment and economic development; grant; appropriation; fiscal year 2027; one-time appropriation; economic development.