On Jan. 11, South Texas College had a “million-dollar morning” with three Texas Workforce Commission grants totaling more than $1.3 million. The award includes a $249,096 Job and Education for Texas grant, as well as $655,153 to STC’s Healthcare and Social Assistance Consortium. The consortium will create and upgrade 1,167 jobs. Additionally, a $409,890 grant goes to the college’s Manufacturing Consortium to create and upgrade 205 jobs.
Guest speakers in attendance at the grant ceremony included state Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa and TWC Chairwoman Ruth Hughs. Also speaking were Woodcrafters Home Products HR Manager Irma Vento and Teresa Johnson of South Texas Health Systems education department.
“By working together, we are growing the economy of this Valley,” said STC President Shirley Reed. “We know that no one does this alone. This is a collaboration, and all of us share in the commitment that we are able to do such great things. This is a million dollar morning, not bad for a cloudy day.”
About the grants
The JET Grant will be used to provide equipment for the Computer Information Technology Program. This includes the purchase of a Forensic Recovery of Evidence Device, training students in both forensic techniques and collection of evidence.
Grant partners involved in the SDF Healthcare grant include United Health Systems, Southwest Texas Junior College and Laredo College. Under the grant, UHS’s local affiliate STHS will train registered nurses, mammography technicians, emergency room technicians, housekeepers, CNAs and a variety of occupations. STHS hospitals include Cornerstone Regional Hospital, Edinburg Regional Medical Center, Edinburg Children’s Hospital, McAllen Medical Center and McAllen Heart Hospital. STHS also runs two ER centers in Mission and Weslaco.
STC’s Institute for Advanced Manufacturing will provide SDF Manufacturing grant business partners Wood Crafters Home Products and TST NA Trim with training. This includes quality assurance and industrial maintenance in automation. It is expected to have an overall regional impact of over $1.3 million, according to TWC commissioner Hughs.