At the check presentation. Back row from left are Teresa Rodriguez, Wanda F. Garza, Dr. William Serrata, Jesse Villarreal, Carlos L. Margo, Monte Churchill, Jose Cruz and Bonnie Gonzalez. Front row from left are Harold Jones, Representative Armando "Mando" Martinez, TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Ronald Congleton, Mariluz Lugo, Weslaco Mayor Miguel D. Wise, STC President Shirley A. Reed, Samuel Lugo. Not pictured is State Senator Eddie Lucio Jr.
South Texas College has partnered with two Mid-Valley manufacturing companies to provide job training using a $234,629 Skills Development Fund Grant from the Texas Workforce Commission. The business partners include Rio Grande Container Inc. and Wood Crafters Home Products, LLC.
“This is a great day for Weslaco and STC. The college is committed to creating jobs, economic development, and one of the strategic directions of the college is to serve as the catalyst for regional economic prosperity and social mobility,” said STC President Shirley A. Reed. “That means bringing jobs to the Mid-Valley and helping you be prepared to take advantage of those jobs so that you can really earn a good living for you and your family, that’s really what South Texas College is all about.
“We are pulling together all the colleges, universities, public schools, employers, communities and corporations so that this region will lead the entire nation in advanced manufacturing’” she added. “That’s our mission, that’s our commitment, and that’s where the jobs are.”
On Nov. 10, 2011, TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Ronald G. Congleton presented a check to South Texas College President Shirley A. Reed and representatives from the partnering companies at a special ceremony at the college’s Mid-Valley Campus in Weslaco.
“This is one of the fastest growing regions in the country, but it also has an unemployment problem,” said Congleton. “We’re very proud of what you’re doing down here. This grant will help in upgrading 156 current workers and lead to the creation of 56 new jobs. Now that may not sound like a lot, but to those 56 people, that means a world of difference. Having a job means self-respect and dignity. Not having one brings depression and despair. This is the reason that having a job is so important.”
Several regional dignitaries were in attendance to help celebrate the occasion, which shed the light on the all the positive work taking place in the Rio South Texas Region.
“These representatives of both public and private sectors have come together today for an exciting capital investment in our most valuable resource, our human capital, our local residents and citizens,” said Weslaco Mayor Miguel D. Wise. “More important, the investment will provide 212 workers with valuable skills and empower them to make them more productive and competitive.”
“Leadership is not the ability to tell people what to do, it’s the ability to make people want to do the right thing through example. It’s how you lead your life,” said State Senator Eddie Lucio Jr. “South Texas College is not only one of the top community colleges in Texas, but one of the very best in the country. This (grant) will be able to help a couple hundred people reach their goals and address their needs. We have an incredible community in the Valley, here in Weslaco, with people who really do care. The grant will go a long way to help us continue to grow.”
The grant will be used to custom train approximately 212 new and incumbent workers in methodologies aimed at increasing workers technical skills in advanced manufacturing. Those trained will include production crew members, leaders and machine operators.
“If you look at Wood Crafters’ vision statement, it begins with four words that says, ‘development of our people,’” said Rick Barr, executive vice president of human capital for Wood Crafters. “I think that focus is consistent, and it seems that this program aligns with what our vision is for the company, and that’s to see our people develop, see their families be blessed and prosper, and as a result of that we will see Weslaco and the Rio Grande Valley be a benefactor of that also.”
Upon completion of the trainings, participants will earn an average hourly wage of approximately $11.75 an hour.
“What we need here is jobs, and that’s no surprise. We’re working everyday to improve and help people. It’s tough, but we’ve got good people,” said Harold Jones, president and owner of Rio Grande Container. “I love Weslaco and we need to work together to help improve it. We went through World War II, and we made it. We’ve gone through a few more wars, and we made it. And we’re going through an economy that kills everybody, but we’ll make it with talent and hard work.”
The Skill Development Grant training is coordinated and provided by STC’s Institute for Advanced Manufacturing, a NAAMREI affiliate. STC’s IAM is tasked with identifying employer needs for workforce talent development and helping find solutions that keep the regional advanced, manufacturing industry growing. Currently, the Rio South Texas Region in the world leader in advanced, rapid response manufacturing.
For additional information about STC’s IAM and similar grant-funded or customized training call 956-872-6197 or visit http://manufacturing.southtexascollege.edu/iam.
The Texas Workforce Commission is a state agency dedicated to helping Texas employers, workers and communities prosper economically. For details on TWC and the services it offers in coordination with its network of local workforce development boards, call 512-463-8556 or visit www.texasworkforce.org.