TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSIONER TO PRESENT BLINN SKILL DEVELOPMENT GRANT
Texas Workforce Commissioner Ronald G. Congleton will present Blinn College with a grant for $115,145 to provide safety and skills training for almost 200 employees at a new pipe mill located in Bryan.
As announced in August, Blinn partnered with Axis Pipe and Tube, Inc. to train 156 new employees and upgrade the skills of 33 existing employees using funds awarded through the Skills Development Fund grant. The $120 million facility went into operation this fall and will eventually employ 285 people. The company expects to produce approximately 300,000 tons of pipe and tubular products each year.
Blinn provided customized technical training for the manufacturing of pipe and tubing and specialized safety training, including Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations, the safe operation of forklifts, as well as first aid, CPR and automated external defibrillator (AED) training.
The check presentation will take place Thursday, March 12, at 11:30 a.m. at the Axis Pipe & Tube Training Center located at 1451 Louis E. Mikulin Road in Bryan.
The Skills Development Fund is the premier job-training program in Texas, providing training dollars for Texas businesses and their employees. Administered by the Texas Workforce Commission, success is achieved through collaboration among businesses, public community and technical colleges, local workforce development boards and economic development partners. From Sept. 1, 2013 – Aug. 31, 2015, the Texas Workforce Commission has budgeted $48 million in Skills Development Funds to support high-quality, customized job training projects across the state.
“Blinn is excited about the opportunity to partner with more local businesses in applying for these funds,” said Rod Thomas, director of workforce and corporate partnerships. “The training provided through the Skill Development Fund produces better employees who in turn contribute to the community’s economic vitality.”
Businesses, consortiums and trade unions with more than 100 employees are encouraged to contact the College at 979-209-7205 to explore partnering with Blinn for Skill Development Fund training opportunities. Businesses with fewer than 100 employees may be eligible for Skills for Small Business grants, and are also encouraged to contact Blinn for more information.
Blinn’s Division of Workforce Education improves the local economy by helping job-seekers obtain the skills and credentials they need to succeed in the workplace, and by partnering with local businesses to offer training opportunities for incumbent and new employees. For more information on Blinn’s Workforce Education opportunities, including class schedules and registration information, visit www.blinn.edu/workforce.