The Upper Midwest relies upon a mix of professionals as well as volunteers to deliver a range of primary health services. This includes the initial encounter with emergency services, the routine engagement of a mix of health service providers to meet immediate needs, and the definitive services of primary care information regarding public health sciences and the systems of response. To establish this knowledge among a diverse provider base across the region, the Upper Midwest Center for Public Health Preparedness identified individuals representing a mix of professions, and provided them with the opportunity to become trained in public health preparedness. Protecting the health of our communities requires a well-trained public health workforce that is able to prepare for, promptly identify, and respond to public health threats. The Upper Midwest Center for Public Health Preparedness (UMCPHP) is one of 52 Centers for Public Health Preparedness funded by a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. UMCPHP serves the Upper Midwest and was established to strengthen the capacity of the public health workforce to respond to bioterrorism and other public health emergencies.