Weatherford Partners with Alamo Colleges for $1.5 Million Job-Training Grant
AUSTIN – Weatherford has partnered with Alamo Colleges to provide job training using a $1.5 million Skills Development Fund grant from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).
“Skills grants deliver customized training solutions that help Texas employers and workers succeed in the marketplace,” said TWC Chairman Andres Alcantar. “This investment builds not only employee skills, but the capabilities of our community colleges to the benefit of employers and the community. We are pleased to make this investment.”
The grant will be used to provide 673 new workers with technical training to operate oilfield equipment properly. Those trained will include field engineers, operators and technicians as well as mechanics and equipment operators. Upon completion of training, the workers will earn an average hourly wage of $17.34.
"The Alamo Colleges is proud to play a critical role in training the skilled workers companies such as Weatherford need to be competitive," said Alamo Colleges Chancellor Dr. Bruce Leslie. "These are the in-demand jobs that our area needs to benefit fully from the economic impact of the Eagle Ford Shale development," he added.
From the program’s inception in 1996 through 2012, Skills Development Fund grants have created or upgraded more than 286,000 jobs throughout Texas. The grants have assisted 3,901 employers with their customized training needs. The Legislature appropriated $48.5 million to the Skills Development Fund for the 2012-13 biennium.
“The Skills Development Fund will help Weatherford provide customized training opportunities for Texas workers to advance the skills needed to perform their daily jobs, as well as prepare them for the future of the industry,” said Weatherford US QHSSE Training Manager Gabe DeGabriele. “Most importantly, the training programs provided by the grant are instrumental in expanding Weatherford’s focus on providing a higher quality of operational performance while ensuring environmental safety beyond basic regulatory standards.”
Employers seeking more information about the Skills Development Fund may visit the TWC website at http://skills.texasworkforce.org.
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 512-463-8942 or visit www.texasworkforce.org.