$1.7 Million in State Job-Training Grants Land in Houston: 689 Workers at Tesla, Texas Tissue and Karsten to Train Through Houston City College
Four Skills Development Fund awards announced Thursday put most of the money in Houston - maintenance technicians, welders, line operators and supervisors - with a fourth grant training 87 more workers in the Rio Grande Valley.
HOUSTON - Gov. Greg Abbott announced Thursday four Skills Development Fund grant awards totaling $1,726,092 to Houston City College, Workforce Solutions Lower Rio Grande Valley and local partners, administered by the Texas Workforce Commission to provide customized training for 689 new and current workers in manufacturing, technology, logistics and other high-demand occupations. TWC Chairman Joe Esparza presented the Houston awards at a ceremony at Houston City College, to representatives of the college, Tesla Inc., Watchfire Signs LLC, Texas Tissue Converting LLC, Karsten Management LLC and other partners.
The Houston-side grants break down by shop floor: $782,998 to train 261 workers at Tesla Inc. as maintenance technicians, process technicians and welders; $690,044 to train 300 workers at Texas Tissue LLC and Karsten Management LLC as maintenance technicians, production line operators, design specialists and frontline supervisors; and $83,963 to train 41 workers at Watchfire Signs LLC as operations specialists, industrial maintenance technicians and production supervisors. A fourth award of $169,087, presented by TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Alberto Trevino III at a ceremony in McAllen, will train 87 workers through Workforce Solutions Lower Rio Grande Valley for Denso Ten America Limited, Alps Logistics (USA) Inc., Index Fresh Inc. and Emerson Electric Co.
"These grants will equip 689 Texans with the skills they need for high-demand careers, help businesses find qualified workers, and ensure our state remains a leader in economic growth," Abbott said. "When we align local training directly with the needs of expanding industries, we strengthen the regional economy," Esparza said, adding that the grants empower Houston City College and Workforce Solutions Lower Rio Grande Valley to provide the specialized training employers need in Texas.
The Skills Development Fund is the state's workforce training grant program, run by TWC in partnership with public community and technical colleges, workforce boards and the Texas A&M engineering agencies. Since the program began in 1996, the state says it has provided training in partnership with more than 5,000 employers, supporting the creation or upgrading of more than 446,000 jobs - Houston's share of that pipeline now grows by 602 trained workers at three local employers.
