Vikings stadium officials set diversity goals

Published 9:56 am Monday, February 11, 2013

ST. PAUL — Officials working on the new Minnesota Vikings stadium say it might be difficult to meet certain employee-diversity goals.

The stadium legislation signed by Gov. Mark Dayton this spring included goals from the state Legislature to have minority workers make up nearly a third of the labor force and for women to be 6 percent of the workforce.

The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority adopted the plan Friday.

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Chairwoman Michele Kelm-Helgen said a shortage of skilled workers in Minnesota will make it difficult to comply. But she said stadium officials will do their best to meet the goals without importing workers or companies, since the ultimate goal is to increase Minnesota jobs.

Stadium officials are encouraging training programs to prepare more workers for construction jobs.