U.S. Department of Labor pumps $2 million into RGV to improve talent pipelines

HARLINGEN, Texas - The two official workforce boards in the Rio Grande Valley have been awarded almost $2 million to improve the development of the region’s talent pipeline to high-quality jobs. The two groups are Workforce Solutions Lower Rio (WSLR) and Workforce Solutions Cameron (WSC). The former looks after workforce development in Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy counties. They have received a $1,991,745 grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, with monies becoming available thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.Only two such grants were awarded in the State of Texas.The Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs grant will support public-private partnerships that provide worker-centered training programs. The  Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which aims to collaboratively build a better America.A news conference was held at Texas State Technical College (TSTC) in Harlingen on Dec. 15 to announce the grant. Among the speakers were Alberto Treviño, the labor representative on the Texas Workforce Commission, Cledia Hernandez, vice chancellor and chief external relations office for TSTC, Francisco Almaraz, executive director of WSLR, and Pat Hobbs, executive director of WSC.According to Almaraz and Hobbs, the program is designed to create career pathways to high-quality jobs in the renewable energy, transportation, and broadband infrastructure sectors while prioritizing the delivery of training and supportive services to those from rural and underrepresented communities. “The ultimate goal is to help job seekers take on high-demand, high-quality career opportunities in advanced manufacturing, information technology, and technical service occupations, “Almaraz said. “This will create a clear path to obtaining good-paying infrastructure jobs that will help our communities thrive in the long run.” Almaraz said the Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs grant will complement the local workforce boards’ ongoing efforts to meet the Valley’s infrastructure workforce needs. He said this includes aligning registered apprenticeships and workforce programs at community colleges and supporting state and local partnerships that seek to leverage workforce funding to provide high-quality training and supportive services. In his remarks, Hobbs stressed the importance of unity in the Valley - something Hernandez also did - and, as he has done in the past, decried the underfunding and under appreciation of training for trade skills."The Valley's two workforce boards are collaborating regionally to prepare locals for upcoming high-paying jobs. These jobs include the construction and operation of new LNG terminals at the Port of Brownsville, Space X operations at Boca Chica, clean hydrogen production facilities, and other upcoming technologies. This grant will aid in developing the necessary training and education pathways,” Hobbs said. Hobbs said the main goal of the two workforce boards is to respond to local employers and workers' needs through locally designed, demand-driven workforce development initiatives. Editor’s Note: Here is an audio recording of highlights from the press conference.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.