Ambulance Service Training and Staffing Grant

The Ambulance Service Training and Staffing Grant, also known as the Earn While You Learn program, is administered by the Minnesota Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) with funding provided through the Minnesota Legislature. The initiative was created to address significant workforce shortages within the state’s emergency medical services by reducing barriers to EMT certification and supporting ambulance services in developing sustainable staffing solutions. By providing resources for paid training opportunities, this program aims to strengthen the statewide emergency response infrastructure and increase the number of qualified EMTs available to serve Minnesota communities. The grant supports the development and expansion of paid EMT training programs, allowing participants to earn wages while completing required coursework and certification. This design helps remove financial obstacles that often prevent individuals from pursuing EMT careers. With a focus on stability and readiness, the program ensures ambulance services are staffed with personnel prepared to meet local and statewide health emergencies. It also encourages broader recruitment, including from historically marginalized and underserved populations, helping to build a more resilient and representative EMS workforce. Funds awarded under this program may be used only for specific eligible costs, including tuition for EMT education programs, EMT certification exam fees, background study fees for new EMT employees, and wages and benefits for employees while attending training or related program activities. Wage reimbursement is capped at $26 per hour, aligning with entry-level EMT compensation standards. Administrative costs, as well as travel and subsistence expenses, are not allowable. This careful delineation of spending rules ensures resources are directly tied to the training and staffing objectives of the program. To qualify, applicants must be licensed under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 144E, and demonstrate that at least half of their ambulance staffing in the previous calendar year was provided by EMTs. Eligibility may be documented through either roster-based data (50% or more of personnel listed at the EMT level) or response-based data (50% or more of reported responses involving an EMT). This requirement ensures funding is targeted to ambulance services with a proven reliance on EMTs as the backbone of their operations. The application process is competitive and includes submission of required exhibits: assurances and a signed coversheet, a completed work plan and budget, an application narrative, and a certification of good standing. For requests over $50,000, additional documentation such as capacity responses, nonprofit or for-profit disclosures, and evidence of no felony convictions in the past ten years are also required. Applications are scored on a 100-point scale with emphasis placed on project overview, demonstrated service need, readiness and capacity, the work plan and budget, and anticipated impact of the proposed project. Applications open on September 3, 2025, with a virtual applicant information session scheduled for October 6, 2025. Written questions are due by October 8, 2025, and final applications must be submitted online no later than 4:00 p.m. on October 17, 2025. The state will conduct pre-award risk assessments in November, with award notifications and grant agreements issued in December 2025. The anticipated grant period runs from January 1 through December 30, 2026, with possible extensions considered at the state’s discretion. Awarded services will be required to submit monthly progress and financial reports throughout the funding period, with payments contingent on timely reporting and adherence to grant requirements. Program oversight rests with the OEMS, and applicants can obtain assistance by emailing finance.oems@state.mn.us or calling 651-201-2809. All inquiries must be submitted in writing, as oral responses are considered non-binding. Final funding decisions rest with the OEMS Director and are not subject to appeal. This grant represents a significant investment in Minnesota’s EMS workforce, aligning state resources with the urgent need for accessible training and sustainable staffing in ambulance services statewide.

Complete application by deadline; ensure eligibility verified by EMT staffing data; no admin/travel costs allowed; emphasize staffing needs and sustainability