ACC Programs Receive TWC Grants
The Texas Workforce Commission recently awarded Alvin Community College and Danbury ISD grant funding that will benefit students in the Nursing and Welding programs.
The commission awarded $262,863 to a partnership between ACC and Danbury ISD. A portion of the funding will go towards equipment for ACC students as well as equipment and ventilation for the Danbury ISD Welding program.
“We are grateful the Texas Workforce Commission continues to invest in our programs to produce the skilled labor this state desperately needs and proud to partner with Danbury ISD to better serve the needs of our community,” said Chase Burgin, ACC director of Industrial Programs. “Over the last few years we have been reshaping our Industrial programs to better fit the needs of industry and our students. ACC recognizes the need for industrial technology to now be a part of an industrial education.”
Danbury ISD Assistant Superintendent Sherry Phillips said the grant program is an important boost for the welding students with the school district.
“We are really excited about the new equipment and our partnership,” she said. “Our students will benefit greatly from learning on the latest equipment in the field.”
The TWC grant will also help fund the purchase of robotic equipment that students will see in use once they enter the workforce, Burgin said.
“Having the knowledge of how to program and operate the robotic welding equipment will better prepare our students for their careers in the craft,” he said. “While some estimate that close to 40% of the current welding jobs will be replaced with this type of computerized equipment, we still promote the value of students being able to perform these tasks by hand. Therefore, students will only be able to learn how to operate this equipment after they have mastered the traditional methods of welding.”
The Nursing program will receive $256,309 which will go towards patient simulation for students.
“As we continue to look for alternatives to clinical placement, simulation provides students realistic scenarios that can be tailored to meet the objectives of content being taught in the classroom,” said Dr. Debbi Fontenot, ACC Nursing director. “ Faculty can provide guaranteed learning opportunities in the lab. Students continue to be amazed at the technology available to aid in their education.”
Since 2014, ACC has received a total of $1.7 million from the TWC JET program.
TWC awarded 41 grants this year, totaling $8.2 million, to multiple public community colleges, public technical institutes, public state colleges and independent school districts for programs that focus on supporting high-demand occupations through the JET grant program.
“This significant investment by TWC in our future workforce will help provide economic opportunities for Texans,” said TWC Chairman Bryan Daniel. “Providing training opportunities in high demand jobs will continue the development of new industries in our state.”
The JET program provides funding for equipment to eligible educational institutions for the purpose of developing career and technical education courses and may include courses offering dual-credit and Technical education programs. Equipment funded through JET grants must be used to train students for jobs in high-demand occupations.
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.