Offshore Drilling Consortium Partners with Texas Southmost College

AUSTIN — The Cameron County area workforce will benefit from a $733538 job-training grant from the Skills Development Fund that the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) administers. A five-member offshore drilling consortium will partner with Texas Southmost College for the grant.

The grant will be used to create or upgrade 630 welder pipe fitter carpenter mechanic and carpenter jobs among others. Upon completion of training workers will earn an average hourly wage of $10.46. The five-member offshore drilling consortium includes Keppel AmFELS Inc. APCI A.D. Welding Co. Port Fabricators and S.T. Marine.

“Through the grant workers have an opportunity to improve their skills and provide more proficiency in the workplace” state Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. said. “Many thanks go out to Texas Southmost College TWC and the numerous businesses for their crucial role in preparing a stronger workforce.”

“This grant is a win-win situation because the businesses receive a custom-trained workforce while workers are able to upgrade their current skills” state Rep. Eddie Lucio III said. “I commend Texas Southmost College and the multiple businesses involved for working collectively to achieve a well-built economy.”

“The partnership of private enterprise and public education has been a powerful force in economic development in Texas” said TWC Chair Diane Rath. “This Skills Development Fund grant continues those efforts and we are all indebted to the Governor and the Legislature for their continued support of customized training that benefits both employers and workers.”

In Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 Skills Development Fund grants created or upgraded 20831 jobs which paid an average hourly wage of $19.04. These grants assisted 281 Texas employers with their customized training needs. The Legislature has appropriated $50 million to the Skills Development Fund for the 2008-09 biennium. Employers seeking more information about the Skills Development Fund may visit TWC’s Skills Development Fund Web page at http://www.twc.state.tx.us/svcs/funds/sdfintro.html.

Texas Southmost College contact: Dr. Abraham Greenspan at (956) 882-4105 or Abraham.greenspan@utb.edu