Date: October 9, 2019
Media Contact: Cisco Gamez
Phone: 512-463-8556
AUSTIN ⎯ The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) has awarded two grants: a $781,361 Skills Development Fund grant to Texarkana College in partnership with Graphics Packaging International, LLC and a $196,534 Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) grant to Texarkana College. These grants will benefit workers in the Workforce Solutions Northeast Texas area.
“Today reflects the state’s ongoing commitment to employee development and helping Texas workers find rewarding, high-paying careers,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Julian Alvarez. “Presenting these Skills Development Fund and Jobs and Education for Texans grants ensures that our local community has a workforce that is competitive and talented.”
Texarkana College, in partnership with Graphics Packaging International, LLC will use the $781,361 Skills Development Fund grant to provide custom training to 375 new and incumbent workers in the manufacturing and warehouse industries. Training will include extrusion operations, warehouse operations, woodyard operations and mechanical maintenance technology. Upon completion of training, the workers will receive an average hourly wage of $26.46.
Since its inception in 1996, the Skills Development Fund grants have created or upgraded more than 356,744 jobs throughout Texas. The grants have assisted 4,356 employers with their customized training needs. The Legislature allocated $48 million to the Skills Development Fund for the 2018-19 biennium. Employers seeking more information about the Skills Development Fund may visit the TWC website at www.texasworkforce.org/skills.
“The City of Texarkana, Texas, is grateful and appreciative for the continued support of Commissioner Julian Alvarez, III and the Texas Workforce Commission,” said Texarkana Mayor Bob Bruggeman. “This ongoing support will further develop and enhance the working skills of employees in our region of the state.”
In addition, TWC also awarded Texarkana College a $196,534 JET grant to help the district purchase and install equipment to provide students with training in the automotive industry.
The Jobs and Education for Texans grant program allocates funds each biennium to defray start-up costs associated with the development of career and technical education programs to public community and technical colleges, and independent school districts. Equipment funded through JET grants must be used to train students for jobs in high-demand occupations.
Texarkana College Contact: Suzy Irwin, 903-823-3095, Suzanne.irwin@texarkanacollege.edu
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The Texas Workforce Commission is a state agency dedicated to helping Texas employers, workers and communities prosper economically. For details on TWC and the services it offers in coordination with its network of local workforce development boards, call 512-463-8942 or visit www.texasworkforce.org. To receive notifications about TWC programs and services subscribe to our email updates.
