Building and Design Technology awarded TWC grant
The Division of Business, Public Safety, and Technology at South Texas College (STC) received a grant from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) for $122,544.
The grant, approved by the STC Board of Trustees, will benefit students by offering comprehensive, academic, and technical programs as well as high demand occupation training that will lead to employment opportunities for students.
Funding will support the college’s efforts in conducting an eight-week training program for students. The program will cover basic maintenance of electrical, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) and construction systems.
Participants will also install basic components utilizing a variety of construction tools and equipment, work from ladders, perform physically demanding tasks, and construct and fabricate basic building components required in the maintenance and upkeep of building systems.
Participants will be introduced to proper safety practices and will be required to successfully pass the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) exam, which consists of a 10-hour training course by the completion of the 8-week training program.
The high demand occupations related to this training include electricians, heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers, and installation repair occupations.
Mario Reyna, Dean of Business, Public Safety and Technology says this grant will serve students and the community greatly.
“The construction industry is in dire need for well-educated and trained individuals to help them meet the demands of a booming economy,” says Reyna. “This grant will promote the industry to the community and recruit interested individuals in three areas – electricians, HVAC and construction management. These three technical professions will support the industry to continue the rapid expansion that will continue into the foreseeable future.”
The Building and Design Technology department will be managing the grant. The funding period will be from May 15, 2018 to May 14, 2019.
For more information, contact Irma Rosales, Construction Supervision Program Faculty, at 956-872-5673 or email at imrosales@southtexascollege.edu.