Local Industry Provides Equipment to Prepare Students for Careers
Panel Specialist Incorporated and Workforce Solutions of Central Texas have partnered to provide new advanced manufacturing equipment for the Temple Independent School District. The program is part of the Texas Industry Partnership (TIP) initiative and will help to purchase equipment that addresses the training needs of the designated industry cluster of Advanced Technologies and Manufacturing. “When an industry gets involved with our educational institutions we see a real impact on students being career ready”, said Charley Ayres, Director of Industry/Education Partnerships for Workforce Solutions of Central Texas. The grant includes the purchase of the computer numerical control (CNC) machining tool and computer-aided design (CAD) software. The equipment purchased is made possible using a $15,000 TIP grant from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) and leveraged matching funds of $15,000 from Panel Specialist Incorporated. The grant will benefit students in the Career and Technical Education Program.
“The partnership between Panel Specialists Incorporated and Workforce Solutions of Central Texas on this Texas Industry Partnership grant will benefit the students of Temple ISD and help develop a workforce pipeline for the community’s industries,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Julian Alvarez. “We continue to implement strategies that help young Texans be workplace ready”.
“Panel Specialists is committed to helping young people prepare for careers and become skilled workers. It is not just critical to the growth of our community it is critical to the economic health of our communities. Collaboration is key to economic growth, and Workforce Solutions of Central Texas and Panel Specialists Inc. are demonstrating how pooling resources can positively affect employment readiness,” said State Rep. Hugh Shine.
A check presentation ceremony was held at the Temple ISD Administration Building, 401 Santa Fe Way on August 27, 10:30 am. The Texas Industry Partnership is a $1 million program that allows the local workforce board to apply for funds, to be matched by local industry partners, on behalf of workforce-related projects. Ideally, the funds are used to create occupational job training programs that will improve the skill sets of individuals for jobs in six designated industry clusters: advanced manufacturing, aerospace, biotechnology, information technology, petroleum refining, and energy. Funding can be used but is not limited to curriculum, equipment, instructors and small building improvements.