St. Paul, MN – After six decades of serving the St. Paul community, the Hubert H. Humphrey Job Corps Center is set to close its doors, a decision driven by federal budget cuts and concerns about the center’s performance. The closure, slated for June 30th, marks the end of a vital resource for local teens and young adults seeking vocational training and career opportunities.
The Catalyst: Federal Budget Cuts and Performance Concerns The closure stems from a strategic shift in federal funding, with the U.S. Department of Labor targeting vocational centers nationwide. The department’s analysis identified shortcomings in the Job Corps program, citing high costs and a graduation rate averaging just 39%. This decision aligns with President Biden’s fiscal year 2026 budget proposal, reflecting a commitment to ensuring federal workforce investments deliver meaningful results.
A Center of Community Impact For 60 years, the St. Paul Job Corps Center has been a cornerstone of the community, offering training in skilled trades like construction, electrical trades, industrial painting, certified nursing, culinary arts, and office administration. The center annually trained an average of 264 students before the pandemic, now housing and training 161 teens and young adults. Graduates have gone on to work for prominent employers such as Delta Airlines, the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, and Painting By Nakasone.
Devastating Closure and Student Support The closure is a devastating blow to the students and staff at the center. With a deadline of June 13th to terminate all 161 students and trade apprentices, the situation is dire. Currently, more than 60 students face an uncertain future, with no immediate housing options. The center’s 100 employees, too, will lose their jobs. However, efforts are underway to support these individuals. The staff is collaborating with Ramsey County to secure stable housing for the students and partnering with employment and trade union partners to facilitate job placements.
Data and Criticisms Data revealed significant challenges, including a $140 million deficit in fiscal year 2024 and a projected $213 million deficit this year. The report also highlighted 1,764 instances of violence and the low graduation rate of 47% at the St. Paul center, compared to an average of 39% across all Job Corps centers. Graduates often earned an average of $16 an hour, with some receiving only $20,759 annually. However, center director Katie Kapaun disputes these figures. She asserts that the St. Paul center’s graduation rate is 63%, with trainees earning an average of $19.82 an hour, plus benefits, and that the center maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding violence. Kapaun emphasizes the program’s return on investment, stating that for every dollar invested, the program generates $1.15 in return.
Concerns About Homelessness and Future Funding The closure raises serious concerns about potential homelessness among the students. State legislators and senators have voiced their opposition, with Lindsey Port, chair of the Minnesota Senate Housing Committee, urging the U.S. Senate to block the budget, citing the risk of displacement. The Department of Labor is working with state and local workforce partners to connect students with alternative education and employment opportunities, emphasizing a commitment to supporting participants through the transition. Despite these efforts, the future of the St. Paul Job Corps Center remains uncertain, highlighting the broader challenges facing the federal workforce investment program.
