TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Ronny Congleton (far left) presents a Skills Development Fund grant check for $386,218 to Austin Community College (ACC) Executive Director of Customized Training Kathy Walton (second from left), Weed Instrument Human Resource and Payroll Coordinator Deborah Mazoch (third from left), ACC Customized Training Grant Program Coordinator Cindy Fisher (fourth from left), ACC President and CEO Dr. Stephen B. Kinslow (far right) and ACC Vice President of Workforce Education and Business Development Mike Midgley (in back).

The Austin Community College District Customized Training Department and a group of local manufacturers recently received a $386,218 job-training grant from the Texas Workforce Commission’s Skills Development Fund.

The grant provides training for manufacturing workers employed by 10 firms partnered in a local consortium. The grant allows the manufacturers to upgrade 206 existing positions and create an additional 137 positions. Workers who complete their training will earn an increased average hourly wage of $20.71.

The ACC District will work with consortium partners to provide onsite training to employees who seek improved skills in advanced manufacturing, computers, and/or management.

The manufacturing consortium includes CFAN, Chatsworth Products Inc., Ember Industries, Genlyte Group, HADCO, Enflite, Martin-Decker Totco, Mensor Corp., Tasus Texas Corp. and Weed Instrument. They reside primarily along the Interstate 35 corridor between Georgetown and San Marcos.