TWC Presents Two Skills Development Fund Grants Totaling $870,803 to DMC and Two Industry Partners for Employees’ Upskilling, Reskilling Training
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April
2023
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20:46 PM
Europe/Amsterdam
Del Mar College Corporate Services training impacting combined 468 employees with Gulf Island Services LLC and ArcelorMittal Texas HBI, keeping Coastal Bend industries competitive
Article by Melinda Eddleman
TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Aaron Demerson_Signing Gulf Island Services TWC Grant Check
To remain competitive, companies have to stay ahead of the curve in their industries. While Del Mar College (DMC) serves as a pipeline that feeds well-trained, highly-skilled individuals into South Texas’ workforce, sometimes training involves upskilling or reskilling current or new employees already on the job.
Two Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Skills Development Fund (SDF) grants are providing specific DMC training for two companies with employees here in the Coastal Bend––Louisiana-based Gulf Island Services LLC and ArcelorMittal Texas HBI (formerly voestalpine Texas LLC).
On Wednesday, April 5, TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Aaron Demerson presented two checks totaling $870,803 representing funding covering that customized training through the College’s Workforce Programs & Corporate Services Division.
While on the Windward Campus, Commissioner Demerson and everyone who attended the TWC’s presentation also toured the College’s Gulf Coast Growth Ventures Process Technology Lab and the Petroleum Processing Pilot Plant to see the advanced technology that DMC students and industry partner employees use for hands-on training.
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Congratulations to Del Mar College in partnership with Coastal Bend Workforce Solutions on receiving two Skills Development Fund grants that will benefit local employers Gulf Island Services, and ArcelorMittal. These grants are a perfect example of a win-win situation, as this investment builds the skills of the employee, and also provides the employer with customized training that will meet their immediate needs.
TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Aaron Demerson
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Richard Heo with Gulf Island Services and TWC Commissioner Aaron Demerson
The first SDF grant for $567,597 covers the training needs of Gulf Island Services, whose Coastal Bend location is in Ingleside. DMC is providing a variety of courses for employees in 198 new jobs and 88 upgraded jobs. Preparing or refreshing employees for work on and offshore, these courses range from environmental, safety and health; scaffold building/suspended scaffolding; welding; painter/blaster and first aid/CPR to fall protection; rigging; heavy and forklift operation; HUET and Tropical HUET (helicopter underwater escape training) and more. Leadership training is also provided to new supervisors.
Gulf Island is a leading fabricator of complex steel structures and modules and a provider of specialty services, including project management, hookup, commissioning, repair, maintenance, scaffolding, coatings, welding enclosures, civil construction and staffing services to the industrial and energy sectors. Learn more about the company by visiting www.gulfisland.com.
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