Central Minnesota Jobs and Training Services, Inc. (CMJTS) staff and Central Minnesota Workforce Development Board (WDB) members traveled to Washington, D.C. in October for the 2026 Workforce Impact Summit. They went to make sure the people, employers, and communities of Central Minnesota have a voice in shaping the future of the nation’s workforce system.
Representing the region were Wright County Commissioner Jeanne Holland, Joint Powers Board Chair, Rob Stark, Workforce Development Board Chair, Diana Ristamaki, Youth Programs Manager, and Joe Sharpe, Adult Programs Manager.
Designing what comes next
The Workforce Impact Summit is more than an advocacy event. It is a working session focused on designing the next generation of the workforce system and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).
Our team worked alongside workforce leaders, national partners, policy experts and federal officials from across the country. Together, participants:
- Shaped a proactive, future-focused vision for the workforce system and WIOA
- Identified ways to strengthen how the system serves workers and employers
- Helped inform a policy framework built for the challenges and opportunities ahead
- Built shared priorities and coordinated messages across states and regions
On Capitol Hill
The summit included time at the U.S. Capitol, where our team met with the offices of Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar and Representatives Pete Stauber, Tom Emmer, and Michelle Fischbach, including a brief conversation with Congressman Stauber himself. These conversations focused on three priorities: preserving local control of workforce programs through Local Workforce Development Boards, sustaining WIOA funding as reauthorization moves forward, and understanding how proposed changes to the Office of Management and Budget’s Uniform Guidance on federal funding administration would affect services to Minnesotans. Our team emphasized that Minnesota’s locally driven, employer-led workforce system is working, and shared a success story from Milaca along with examples of how we support employers through Incumbent Worker Training, On-the-Job Training, and hiring assistance. We also thanked Senator Smith for her continued support of Youthbuild, and Representative Emmer’s office expressed interest in supporting and attending our youth camps.
Key messages our team shared included stable WIOA funding, local flexibility, an investment in training for in-demand careers.
The group, along with Workforce Development, Inc. Executive Director Jinny Rietmann, gathered on the Capitol steps before their meetings and later took in the view from a Capitol balcony overlooking the National Mall and the Washington Monument. Both moments were a fitting reminder of what was at stake: national decisions that shape opportunity in communities like ours.
Why it matters for Central Minnesota
Federal workforce policy directly affects the services CMJTS provides to job seekers, workers and employers across our region. When local boards help design that policy, the system is more likely to reflect what communities actually need.
Participating in the summit also strengthens how CMJTS and the Central Minnesota Workforce Development Board communicate our impact. In program year 2025, CMJTS served 2,441 unique participants and reached more than 200 employers. Those results are the reason we advocate, and they are built on three strengths:
- Grounded in local data and partnership. The board works closely with employers, educators, economic development groups and community organizations. Through joint planning, we aim to exceed state performance standards and deliver measurable results for every dollar invested.
- Driven by sector partnerships. Focused partnerships in manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, agriculture and the skilled trades align training with what employers actually need. This closes skill gaps and expands the available workforce for employers in our communities.
- Building future pipelines. Initiatives like Youthbuild and STEM training prepare the next generation of workers. Industry and economic development partnerships support growth in manufacturing, construction, energy, and other high-demand sectors.
“We really appreciated the opportunity to tell our local story from the workforce, business, and commissioner perspectives,” said Wright County Commissioner Jeanne Holland. “These are real stories about the people and businesses we serve. We enjoyed sharing them and are grateful for the time given us.“
Looking ahead
The Workforce Impact Summit brings together the people who understand the workforce system best, both to advocate for what communities need today and to help design the system they will need tomorrow. CMJTS is proud to be part of that work.
Thank you to our board members for giving their time and their voices to this effort. We will continue to share updates as national workforce policy develops.
To learn more about CMJTS programs and services, or about the Central Minnesota Workforce Development Board, visit www.cmjts.org or contact Dina Wuornos at [email protected].
