AUSTIN – James Construction Group LLC has partnered with Temple College to provide job training using a $106,283 Skills Development Fund grant from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).   

            The grant will be used to custom train 74 new and incumbent workers in safety, technical, process and professional and soft skills. Those trained include construction equipment operators, construction foremen, mechanics, carpenters and field engineers. Upon completion of training, workers will earn an average hourly wage of $18.

TWC Commissioner Ronny Congleton (left) presents a Skills Development Fund check for $106,283 to Temple College President Dr. Glenda Barron (third from left) and James Construction Vice President of Texas Division Ken Janke (right).  Also attending the ceremony was Belton Mayor Jim Covington (second from left). (Temple College photo)

“Our Skills Development Fund grants serve everyone well,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Ronny Congleton. “Workers get the specialized training they need and the communities benefit from a more highly skilled workforce.”   

In Fiscal Year (FY) 2009, Skills Development Fund grants created or upgraded 19,516 jobs, which paid an average hourly wage of $24.44. These grants assisted 170 Texas employers with their customized training needs. The Legislature appropriated $90 million to the Skills Development Fund for the 2010-11 biennium. Employers seeking more information about the Skills Development Fund may visit the TWC Web site at http://skills.texasworkforce.org.
 
            Temple College contact: Tyler Smith, director of workforce development, (254) 298-8639 or tyler.smith@templejc.edu

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.