EXCITE 2025 Receives Innovation Award for Helping Educators Explore Business Sectors

EXCITE 2025 was recently recognized by the Economic Development Association of Minnesota (EDAM) for connecting educators with local businesses across a variety of industries. EXCITE 2025 received an Innovation Award at EDAM’s annual winter conference, celebrating a program that develops creative solutions to economic development challenges.

“I continue to be impressed by the school districts in Washington County and how eager teachers are to find career opportunities for students,” says Chris Eng, Economic Development Director for East Metro MSP. “Our local businesses also deserve to be celebrated for their willingness to open their doors and invite them in.”

These relationships between school systems and private industry can turn into lasting bonds that benefit both the community and workforce development efforts for years to come.

EXCITE 2025 Brought Teachers on Industry Tours 

The EXCITE Program is a three-day tour where teachers visit a variety of businesses across different industries. In 2025, 57 educators in Washington County participated in the event. Along with touring facilities in manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, information technology, and public safety, participants engage in interactive panels and discussions about careers.

“This hands-on exposure empowered educators to bring relevance into their classroom and better prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow,” the team at EDAM said in their announcement.

EXCITE offered stipends and travel support to educators who wanted to participate but had limited means, highlighting the project's equity and access. This way, students from all backgrounds can benefit from the increased knowledge of local industries that educators have gained.  

Washington County Teachers Help Students Explore Careers

EXCITE 2025 has the potential to support thousands of students in their career exploration efforts as educators bring fresh ideas about what students can do after graduation. Counselors and career advisors can speak confidently about different work environments in Washington County.

EXCITE 2025 directly addresses a problem educators worldwide are seeing: students are unaware of potential career options and how to prepare for them. One report by The State of Global Teenage Career Preparation, which surveyed 690,000 students in 80 countries, found that half of girls and 44% of boys list the same 10 career options when asked what fields they want to pursue. The survey identifies a knowledge gap of potential careers, which can limit the number of students entering different fields after graduation.

Teachers are increasingly valuable in career discussions. Another report found that only 53% of parents “frequently discuss life after graduation with their teenagers.” This means students aren’t discussing potential options, career interests, or pathways outside of school. Educators who lead these discussions can help students explore their interests and consider what life beyond high school looks like. 

This Program Also Supports Long-Term Economic Development

EXCITE 2025 was recognized by EDAM for its innovative workforce development efforts. When students are aware of local employment opportunities in Washington County, they can take steps to prepare for careers locally. Graduates can better understand how an engineering degree turns into a job in East Metro MSP, or how major hospitals need more than just doctors, they also need accountants, operations professionals, and communications specialists.

“Some employers in Washington County are ready to hire high school graduates directly and train them,” says Eng. “Others work with local colleges to advise on curricula or offer internships and job shadowing. Our collective goal is to make it easier for employers to find top talent, so they can continue to innovate and grow.”

Workforce development in the local school system doesn’t just benefit major employers. Small businesses in East Metro MSP can also have an easier time finding qualified candidates and training employees when students feel like there are plenty of opportunities to work in the region. 

Washington County Will Keep Innovating in 2026

EXCITE is just one of many programs designed to support workforce development and career exploration in East Metro MSP. Read how students in Forest Lake learn about careers that use AI and how the Workforce Development Board is making career fairs more interactive with VR goggles.

East Metro MSP is an idyllic area to raise a family and a bustling community with growing industries. Explore this region in greater detail and see why Washington County continues to grow.