Fort Bend County Detention Center’s welding and plumbing training center broke ground in March and is expected to be open in the fall.[/caption]

Inmates at the Fort Bend County Detention Center will soon have an opportunity to learn about welding and plumbing with the construction of a new training center.

Fort Bend County officials broke ground in March on a 2,800-square-foot space. Inmates already have the option to pursue electrical and H-VAC skills in a similar training center, said David Marcaurele, chief deputy of the Fort Bend County sheriff’s office.

“This is one of those initiatives that will allow us to expand some of those training courses for inmates,” he said.

The project is expected to be completed in the fall.

The welding and plumbing training center project is estimated to cost up to $300,000 and is paid for through inmate commissary funds. Profits from the commissary can go to security or educational endeavors, Marcaurele said.

The jail also teaches some sewing, GED prep and basic computer classes.

The welding and plumbing training center will be a hands-on teaching environment with instructors contracted through Wharton County Junior College, Marcaurele said. Inmates who want to participate in the course trainings are vetted, he said.