The Blinn College District invites businesses and individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to apply for specialized training opportunities available through its Corporate Training Program.
Blinn’s Division of Technical and Community Education stands ready to assist local businesses and individuals through a $250,000 Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Skills Development Fund COVID-19 Special Initiative Grant. The grant enables Blinn to conduct industrial safety, infectious disease, electrical, commercial driver’s license (CDL), and other essential-function training to qualified business partners and individuals.
“This grant enables Blinn College to provide invaluable training to area businesses and individuals hit hard by the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Corporate College Director Karla Flanagan said. “Not only are we providing a mechanism that helps create jobs, but we also are fulfilling a community need to ensure essential services have the workforce in place to continue to function.”
Business recipients of the training will be vetted by the TWC, must guarantee chosen occupations are being paid the local prevailing wage, and that participating employees are full-time permanent employees or those who have been furloughed.
Individuals eligible for training include those required to fill lab
or shortages for essential workers, including the manufacturing of materials and products needed for medical supply chains and other necessities needed to combat COVID-19. Upon completing their training through Blinn, these individuals also will receive assistance with job placement.
Business owners also can enroll their employees in Blinn technical and community education courses using the TWC’s Skills Development and Skills for Small Business funds, and Blinn staff can help businesses complete the request form. Blinn also offers students access to scholarships through the Blinn College Foundation, private grants, and Workforce Solutions.
To learn more about applying for training assistance through the TWC’s Skills Development Fund COVID-19 Special Initiative Grant, contact Flanagan at 979-209-7445 or [email protected].
