McAllen’s advanced manufacturing sector has received a boost thanks to a $259,440 job-training grant to South Texas College. Funds from the McAllen Development Corporation grant will provide customized training, as well as equipment, salaries and supplies. All aspects will come from STC’s Institute for Advanced Manufacturing.

“We need to put in place training opportunities and high-quality training so that we have the most competitive and best prepared workforce in the country which will attract companies to our region,” says STC President Shirley A. Reed.

IAM at STC specializes in building a manufacturing workforce through customized training. This involves more than 300 courses at STC that have been tailored for the needs of local industry. The college modifies, customizes and develops new courses that companies need in order to thrive in the region. IAM works with various manufacturers in the region to improve financial performance, as well as create higher efficiency and productivity. IAM also works to obtain greater employee engagement and lower turnover.

“Some of the training is very specific to the employee such as learning additional skills, and we also do company-wide training to improve efficiencies and automation training,” said Carlos Margo, associate dean for the Office of Industry Training and Economic Development. “It really spans a broad range of training, and that’s what these funds allow us to do.”

A check was recently presented for the funding, which runs through Sept. 30, 2019.

“People don’t realize all that it takes in manufacturing like certificates, trainings and everything else so we are proud to be a part of that, especially with something as meaningful as safety training,” said McAllen Mayor Jim Darling at the check presentation. “There will be careers in the future that we still don’t even know what they are so it’s an exciting time to be here.”

The funding period for the grant runs through Sept. 30, 2019.