TWC offers grants for skills training

The Texas Workforce Commission offers employers grant money to provide customized skills training for Texas workers.

Since 1996, more than 168,000 Texas workers have benefited from the collaborations between private industry and training provides like local colleges.

"The partnership of private enterprise and public educations has been a powerful force in economic development in Texas," according to TWC commissioner Ron Lehman.

In the Deep East Texas region, Panola College offered special skills training for millwrights, machiner operators and administrative personnel for a manufacturing and petroleum project.

In the Gulf Coast region, San Jacinto College and West Gulf Maritime teamed up to train longshoremen and forklift operators.

The results of training grants are more jobs at higher wages, according to Lehman, who says, "The program continues to provide much-needed specialized training that benefits both employers and workers."

Grant applications are accepted year round. Information is available at www.texasworkforce.org