Dallas College has been awarded a $3.5 million Skills Development Fund grant from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) to train more than 1,500 employees in construction-related courses. The grant, announced at a special check-signing ceremony today with TWC Commissioner Aaron Demerson, is aimed at expanding trainees' current job responsibilities and increasing productivity for Texas employers.
In partnership with 18 Texas construction businesses, the grant will cover 100% of the tuition for all trainees participating in the project, and there is no cost to employees or employers for instructional delivery, said Tim Samuels, senior director of corporate partnerships at Dallas College. More than 1,000 of those workers are already employed by one or more of the companies, while other trainees will be new hires.
Dallas College will provide a broad range of customized training for employees under the grant, in eight Local Workforce Development Board areas, with a focus on the evolution of construction projects. The training includes programming for pipe layers, plumbers, installation and repair workers, construction managers, sheet metal workers, trade and extraction workers, surveyors, welders, mapping technicians and HVAC technicians.
“Careers in construction are critical for economic growth, no matter where you are and no matter where you live,” said Pyeper Wilkins, vice chancellor of workforce and advancement at Dallas College. “With this much-needed grant funding, Dallas College and our partners are forging key career paths for a workforce that is central to our region’s future. Employers who are looking for a workforce talent pipeline know this is a tough labor market, and construction is one of the sectors struggling most to fill open positions,” she added.
Workers who help construct buildings took home an average weekly wage of about $1,760 in Texas, according to the TWC.
TWC Commissioner Aaron Demerson announced the grant at a special check-signing ceremony.
"Thanks to the TWC and Dallas College, in partnership with construction companies throughout the state, thousands of Texans will receive valuable upskilling and training opportunities that will take their careers to the next level and support building and construction within our fast-growing state," Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement.
The Skills Development Fund grant program has provided training opportunities in partnership with more than 4,800 employers to upgrade or support the creation of nearly 420,000 jobs throughout Texas since the program’s inception in 1996.
TWC Commissioner Demerson presented the check award to representatives from Dallas College and business partners at the signing event, held in the relatively new Dallas College Construction Sciences Building in Coppell.
Representatives from many of the 18 partner employers were present, with the total consortium including Armstrong Mechanical Company, Big Thicket Plumbing, Boen Plumbing, CEC Facilities, JMEG, Kahn Air Conditioning & Heating, Lochridge-Priest, Marek Brothers Systems, MMM Plumbing, Heating & AC, Modern Plumbing Company, Momentum Mechanical, Polk Mechanical, Prism Electric, REC Industries, Shelton, TD Industries, Texas AirSystems and Witt Plumbing Company.
The Skills Development Fund grant program has provided training opportunities in partnership with more than 4,800 employers to upgrade or support the creation of nearly 420,000 jobs throughout Texas since the program’s inception in 1996.
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