How can TWC’s High-Demand Job Training Grants benefit your community?
Here’s how Workforce Solutions Southeast Texas and Port Arthur Economic Development Corp (EDC) teamed up to address a local skills shortage:
• Workforce Solutions Southeast Texas and Port Arthur EDC partnered with Team Fabricators using a $75,000 High-Demand Job Training grant for a total investment of more than $428,000 through this collaboration.
• 24 high-demand jobs created or upgraded in a 12-month period.
For several years, Team Fabricators in Port Arthur faced an ever growing shortage of skilled welders and fabricators. Efforts to expand at the pipe fabrication facility were also hampered due to the inability to recruit qualified employees. With an aging workforce and the loss of in-house talent, many potential candidates did not possess the experience and could not pass the rigorous weld test.
When Team Fabricators was presented with the opportunity to pursue the High Demand Job Training initiative, they pounced on it.
“For several years now we’ve been faced with an ever growing shortage of skilled welders and fabricators,” said Team Fabricators Plant Manager David Cherry. “This initiative is the perfect vehicle to address that shortage.”
The capacity-building grant awarded to Team Fabricators is being used to provide on-the-job training to approximately 24 trainees over a 12-month period to meet the demand of qualified welders at Team Fabricators. Upon completion of training, participants will be paid $14 to $20 an hour.
This TWC grant is part of a $1 million statewide effort to support collaborations between Workforce Solutions partners and local economic development entities to create occupational job training programs that will improve the skill sets of individuals for jobs in high-demand occupations in Texas communities.
Local workforce development boards can apply for up to $75,000 to match funding committed by local EDCs while funds are available. For more on this program and to start the application process, click here or email [email protected].
On May 7, TWC Chairman Andres Alcantar (second from left) attended a kick-off of the High Demand Job Training program at Team Fabricators in Port Arthur. Representatives from Workforce Solutions Southeast Texas, the Port Arthur Economic Development Corp. and local dignitaries attended a grant announcement at Team Fabricators and received a tour of the training facility and a welding demonstration. Read the press release here.
Photo courtesy: Workforce Solutions Southeast Texas
