Local · Trusted · Free
The Morning Impact — your neighborhood's most important stories, delivered every morning.
Houston City College is collaborating with Texas businesses to supply their employees with customized workforce training opportunities.
What’s happening?
The Texas Workforce Commission presented HCC with more than $1.5 million in Skills Development fund grants to go toward specialized training for four Texas businesses, officials announced in a Nov. 2 news release.
Companies include:
Tesla
Texas Tissue Converting
Karsten Management
Watchfire Signs
The grants aim to reinforce workforce skills, fortify employees for changing industry demands and bolster business growth, per the release. In total, the grants will offer training for 689 employees working in manufacturing, technology, logistics and other fields.
The setup
The TWC skills development fund assists Texas businesses in creating training programs for new and current employees, per the release. The grants pay for curriculum development, training materials, instructor certifications and the purchasing or upgrading of training equipment.
Tesla will receive the largest grant totaling just under $783,000 for technical training for 261 new employees assisting its megafactory battery operations in Brookshire.
Meanwhile, Texas Tissue Converting and Karsten Management will receive a grant totaling just over $690,000 to train 300 new and current employees. Additionally, Watchfire Signs will obtain nearly $84,000 for training for advanced innovation efforts.
Zooming out
These initiatives are part of Gov. Greg Abbott’s rollout of $1.7 million in Skills Development Fund grants to HCC, Workforce Solutions Lower Rio Grande Valley and other entities, according to an Oct. 29 news release.
“Texas is the best state in the nation for job creation and economic opportunity,” Abbott said. “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.”
Meanwhile, HCC Chancellor Margaret Ford Fisher said she believes this joint venture can lead to a better future for all of Texas.
“Building a strong workforce requires strong partnerships,” Fisher said. “These grants demonstrate how state agencies, employers and Houston City College can work together to meet evolving workforce needs, strengthen Texas businesses and create meaningful opportunities for workers.”
Next steps
Community Impact reached out to HCC representatives about an employee training timeline, but didn’t receive a response before press time.
