Midwest Industrial Tool Grinding Inc. (MITGI) has been named the winner of the Workforce Development Award, part of the 2017 Minnesota Business Manufacturing Awards. This award recognizes a Minnesota-based manufacturing company for innovation and excellence in talent recruitment, efforts to retain employees and enhancing the image of the industry.

"We're thrilled and honored to receive the Workforce Development award for our work in supporting and promoting careers in manufacturing," said Eric Lipke, MITGI president. "There are many kinds of careers in manufacturing and they require a wide range of skills and talents to fill them. As a company, we believe it is essential to help students, parents, and potential employees learn about manufacturing to discover everything the industry has to offer."

"Over the past decade MITGI has experienced extraordinary growth. Our business goals all face in the same direction – continuing to grow sales and market share, then ensuring we have the space, equipment and people to support it," explained Jennie Nelson, MITGI director of sales and marketing. "Achieving these goals will only be possible if we have talented employees ready and available, which makes workforce development some of the most important work we do."

Winners and finalists in each category are highlighted in the October issue of Minnesota Business magazine. Winners were announced at the 2017 Manufacturing Awards event on Sept. 28, 2017, at ARIA in Minneapolis.