(left to right): Andres Alcantar, TWU commissioner representing the public, signs a $429,573 Skills Development Grant check as Dr. Robert Garza, president of Mountain View College, and MVC’s mascot, the Lion, watch.
Contact: Ann Hatch
214-378-1819;
ahatch@dcccd.edu
For immediate release — Nov. 27, 2017
(DALLAS) — The Dallas County Community College District is committed to provide training for the Dallas-area workforce, to provide employers with skilled employees and to fill the skills gap that currently exists in the Dallas County.
Mountain View and El Centro colleges, both part of the DCCCD system, recently received job training grants from the Texas Workforce Commission — funds that will help them and the district achieve those workforce goals.
Mountain View, Dolco Packaging Partner on Grant
Mountain View College and the Dolco Packaging Division of Tekni-Plex Inc. are partnering to provide job training in both hard and soft skills for the company’s Dallas-based workforce. The TWC $429,573 Skills Development Grant will fund that training. Since it was created in 1996, Skills Development Fund grants have created or upgraded more than 342,000 jobs throughout Texas, assisting 4,238 employers.
“As our area businesses struggle to find skilled employees, we are pleased to partner with the Texas Workforce Commission on this grant to help Dolco Packaging employees earn a living wage and advance their career paths,” said Dr. Robert Garza, president of Mountain View College. “This grant is an example of the journey we are undertaking to help educate a skilled workforce for Dallas-area employers.”
The grant will provide customized training to 189 new and current workers about industry-related topics using focused instruction on circuits, control systems, welding, tooling and molding construction. Trainees will include electronic technicians, material handlers, plant controllers, production operators and warehouse personnel. When they complete the training, Dolco workers will earn an average hourly wage of $17.65.
“This grant is a great example of when government gets it right,” said state Rep. Yvonne Davis. “Mountain View College and Dolco Packaging are connecting the dots between those who have jobs and those who need those jobs through this partnership.”
El Centro Receives Self-Sufficiency Fund Training Grant
El Centro College recently received a $126,000 Self-Sufficiency Fund training grant that will help 60 individuals transition into the workforce by providing them job training for occupations such as licensed insurance sales producers. The grant funds also will assist the college in developing the technical education and learning environment that will lead to industry-recognized certificates and credentials.
(left to right): Dr. Jose Adames, president of El Centro College; Julian Alvarez, TWC commissioner representing labor; Dr. Joe May, DCCCD chancellor; and Mark Hays, DCCCD vice chancellor for workforce and economic development, celebrate the presentation of a $126,000 Self-Sufficiency Fund training grant.
“We are excited to receive a Self-Sufficiency Fund training grant from the Texas Workforce Commission,” said Dr. Jose Adames, president of El Centro College. “As a longstanding source of training for workers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, El Centro stands ready to help workers earn the credentials they need to succeed, to support their families and to contribute to the DFW area’s economy. This grant will help us do that.”
“This Self-Sufficiency Fund grant will help provide training that benefits both the local community and its workforce,” said Julian Alvarez, TWC’s commissioner representing labor. “Ensuring that employees have access to education that enhances their skillsets is key to ensuring that Texas can maintain a talented labor force. Through El Centro College, this grant will help with the state’s workforce efforts.”
The TWC Self-Sufficiency Fund provides grants to eligible training providers, including nonprofit 501(c)(3) community-based organizations, Texas public community or technical colleges or the Texas Engineering Extension Service. The fund pays for curriculum development, instructor fees and certifications, training materials, certain work-related expenses for trainees and some training equipment for targeted industry clusters. During fiscal year 2017, the TWC Self-Sufficiency Fund grant program awarded more than $2.1 million to train 1,127 Texans.
For more information, visit the Texas Workforce Commission at
texasworkforce.org or call 512-463-8942; or contact Ann Hatch in the DCCCD office of public and governmental affairs at
ahatch@dcccd.edu or at 214-378-1819.
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