Grant allows for technical project to move forward
By JIMMY GALVAN Managing Editor

Newsboy photo/Jimmy Galvan U.S. CONGRESSMAN KEVIN BRADY addresses a gathering in front of the Jasper Higher Learning Center during the EDA announcment Monday.The federal grant for $800,000 will allow for the expansion of the tech building at the campus to further address classes and needs for the community.

With the approval of U.S. Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration (EDA), the regional vocational training facility is a go in Jasper.

"Jasper does so well in developing partnerships," said U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady, who participated in the check ceremony at the Jasper Teaching Center - Angelina College. "We need these jobs and we need to train people for these jobs. This is just another smart move for Jasper."

The investment will help build a regional vocational training facility in Jasper.

The Jasper Higher Education Board began working towards securing this grant in early February to fuel expansion at the college campus.

The EDA grant is for $800,000 of the project with the Jasper Economic Development Corporation chipping in $200,000 for the project.

"Three months ago, some representatives from EDA came to Jasper and said they knew Hurricane Rita had hit here and they were looking for a project," said Walter Diggles, director for the Deep East Texas Council of Governments. "That is when the wheels began to turn and today is a culmination of all the work and we are glad to take a little bit of money away from Mississippi and Louisiana and bring it to Texas."

The grant would fund an 8,200-square foot building estimated to cost $1.2 million.

"This is something that we really need here," said Jasper Mayor David Barber. "There is a great need for vocational training in this area."

JEDCO Board President Gayle Meigs said, "This is a dream come true for us."

According to Karen Kipp, the Jasper Higher Education board president, the Jasper vocational training center has grown over the past seven years.

Kipp said 305 students are enrolled at the campus, taking the majority of their classes from the campus.

"It takes all of us to get anything to happen," Kipp said. "Jasper is truly showing everybody that if we pull together and work together, great things can happen.

"This building has been here for seven years and we have already outgrown it," Kipp said. "This will allow kids to head straight into the workforce from the vocational training center."

During the last semester, there were 85 dual credit students at the campus. These are junior and seniors of Jasper High School who are receiving high school and college credits. They can earn up to 30 hours of college credit while in high school.

Of the graduating class of 2007, 51 of 168 seniors are taking advantage of the dual credit courses.

"Over seven years ago, I stood in the hallway and was so proud of what this partnership had put together," said Dr. Larry Phillips of Angelina College. "Flashback to over two years ago and I sat on the corner of the parking lot and watched the thousand of cars roll through the parking lot as we recovered from the hurricane.

"And I said then that Jasper will recover because Jasper has proven that they can pull together and be partners," Phillips said.

"Everybody knows that the key to our nation's and state's future and key to economic development is making sure vocational and technical training beyond high school is available for everybody."

"President Bush believes one way to create jobs is to grow the economy by encouraging investments in local communities," said U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Sandy K. Baruah. "This EDA investment will help train workers in the construction trades, helping the region boost its economy, create jobs, and recover from the Hurricane Rita disaster."

EDA serves as a venture capital resource to meet the economic development needs of distressed communities throughout the United States.

EDA's mission is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy.