Summit Academy OIC has launched a $13 million fundraising campaign to increase the number of trained workers for high-paying jobs, moving more families from poverty into prosperity.
Adding to the Minnesota’s workforce pipeline will also help employers fill some of the 200,000 jobs currently open across the state*.
The “Scaling up for Greater Impact” campaign has already garnered support, having raised $12 million. Its three major initiatives are:
Summit reports that 73% of their students are people of color, many of whom were unemployed when they enrolled; the rest earning less than $26,000 annually. The campaign will help Summit continue making a difference in the lives of low-income members of under-served communities.
Preparing in-demand talent is at the core of Summit. Funding from ‘’Scaling Up for Greater Impact’’ will help launch new trainings in the Financial Services, Healthcare, and Construction industries.
The campaign will also support Summit technology growth. In recognizing that the technology workforce continues to grow and become critical and necessary in all industries, virtual training programs will be offered locally, and eventually on a national scale. Funds will also expand tutoring, mentoring, and financial literacy training.
“At Summit, our commitment to moving people out of poverty by equipping them with the knowledge and skills they need to get good-paying, in-demand jobs is stronger than ever,” says Leroy West, CEO and president of Summit. “Filling all those openings can only happen if every capable worker is engaged in our economy, and that means connecting to those communities that have been overlooked and forgotten.’’
The Student Support Fund will provide emergency funds that will help students mitigate barriers to success. These need-based financial stipends will be granted to students to cover the cost of necessities such as groceries, childcare, laptops, transportation and rent.
With Summit’s STEM program set to grow to 25,000 youth, campaign funds will establish Summit as a tech hub for employers looking for talent.
“Scaling Up for Greater Impact’’ funding will support Summit in continuing its work in assisting individuals in developing their ability to earn and to become contributing citizens in their community.
“The jobs are waiting. We’re ready to mobilize and strengthen our programs, make connections, and serve as a conduit to communities where people are looking for a path to a better future for themselves and their families,” says West.
*October 2023 report published by the Minnesota Employment and Economic Development (DEED).