South Texas College, Hidalgo Independent School District and Texas Workforce Commission united for a check presentation benefiting student workforce training for careers in manufacturing and healthcare March 28.
The grant provides both equipment and instruction for students in manufacturing and pharmacy technology career fields. More than $166,000 came from TWC in the form of the High Demand Job Training Grant and the Jobs and Education for Texans Grant.
In partnership with TWC and McAllen Economic Development Corporation, the $71,520 STC grant will train 60 incumbent and new workers in industrial maintenance and industrial robotic automation.
South Texas College Chairman of the Board, Paul Rodriguez, says students will directly benefit from this grant.
“These grants provide the foundation for us to expand economic opportunity. To be able to have the infrastructure and equipment set up to initiate that training, is money on the ground. This is the nuts and bolts,” said Rodriguez. “These grants will go towards the equipment which will directly help students with hands-on training.”
In addition, Workforce Solutions CEO Francisco Almaraz says TWC is collaborating business and education in the region.
“We partner with a lot of organizations throughout the Rio Grande Valley business, and education primarily,” said Almaraz. “We work with businesses and try to understand what their needs are to determine which occupations are in demand for students.”
HISD, recipient of the $95,323 JET grant, will further provide funding for equipment and training for future pharmacy technicians.
“We are going to have 85 kids participate in the pharmacy tech program,” said Hidalgo ISD Superintendent Xavier Salinas. “Once these students are finished with their training, they will be able to be employed at any pharmacy here in the Rio Grande Valley. STC and Hidalgo ISD have a great partnership, and I am very happy about it.”
The funding period for the grant runs from Dec. 20, 2018 to Nov. 30, 2019.