Manufacturing Scholarship Fund

Area high school students have an opportunity to apply for $1,000 Manufacturing Scholarships each spring. The Scholarships may be used to help cover costs in earning a post-secondary certificate or degree in manufacturing related careers.  In addition to being a soon-to-be graduate, students with a minimum GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale, applicants must be enrolling as a full-time student at an accredited college or university and be a US citizen, and a resident of the Minnesota counties of Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd or Wadena when making application.

Students, Here's Your Link for the Online Application

Deadline to apply is March 31, 2025.

The scholarship fund was established in 2017 by the Lakes Area Manufacturers Alliance (LAMA) in partnership the Initiative Foundation, in response to a need identified by the Central Minnesota manufacturing business community.  It is LAMA's goal to actively engage and build collaboration among manufacturing, education and students.

According to a recent post by the National Association of Manufacturers the manufacturing industry will have 3.8 million new manufacturing positions expected by 2034.  Average annual earning for manufacturing employees nationwide is $98,846.  Meanwhile, half of all of those jobs don't require a four-year college degree or the debt that goes with it.

Our area manufacturers have raised over $30,000 this calendar year alone.  Business Leaders may contact LAMA for more information on how to support the scholarship fund by emailing LAMA at [email protected]  

Meet a few of our recent recipients.