Local College Shares In $399,000 Training Grant
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Local College Shares In $399,000 Training Grant
A local community college has been awarded a $399,000 grant to prepare skilled industrial workers.
Reporter: By Matt Felder
Email Address: matt.felder@kwtx.com
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(October 2, 2008)-- As the baby boom generation gets closer to retirement, the Texas Workforce Commission is moving to the meet the ever-growing demand for skilled trade workers.

In Temple on Thursday, the commission handed over a check for $399,254 that will fund training for 400 jobs.

By the end of the decade, machine shops and skilled laborers will be in higher demand than ever. The Texas Workforce Commission is hoping to change all that with its Skills Development Fund.

"This one of those steps in bringing new people into the workforce,” said Texas Workforce Commissioner Ronny Congleton.

“Creating that workforce that makes us globally competitive and keeps Texas ticking."

The $399,254 grant to Texas Hydraulics, Inc. and Temple College will allow the two to work together in training workers for 400 jobs at the plant.

"To stay competitive you've got to continually upgrade your skills,” Texas Hydraulics Manufacturing Supervisor Scott Darley said.

“The person who remains stagnate is the one who goes out of business."

Although salaries for such jobs are good, industrial jobs just aren't attractive to the younger generation, which makes finding qualified labor more difficult with each passing day.

"It's not like walking into the old World War II lathe and working in a sweat shop,” Texas Hydraulics President Mike Clute said.

“This is high tech equipment. This is highly computerized, highly automated. It takes an incredible skill set."

The skills development fund was created several years ago as the state realized that close to 40 percent of the workforce would be up for retirement by 2010.

"It's always a challenge when you take that many people out of the work force at one time," Congleton said.

In 2007, the fund paid for training for 21,831 jobs.

For 2008 and 2009, the Legislature has approved $50 million to the fund, working to keep the state’s industry at the top of its game.

"Improving the process which improves quality, repeatability standardization and we're not making anyone work harder,” Darley said.

“We're making them work smarter and work easier."

More Information On Skills Development Fund

Latest Comments

Posted by: Heart-Of-Texas Location: Waco on Oct 3, 2008 at 03:43 PM

I'm proud/grateful for this!!! I've been telling young adults to get a 'Skill' for years!! They don't need a 4 year college degree!!!! I successfully worked as a Machinist/Welder/Master Mechanic for over 40 years, with excellent pay/benefits!! We need Skilled Workers, not Full time College kids!! Back-To-The-Future!!
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