Houston City College received more than $1.5 million in Skills Development Fund grants from the Texas Workforce Commission, according to a Nov. 2 news release. The money will pay for specialized training at four Texas businesses: Tesla, Texas Tissue Converting, Karsten Management and Watchfire Signs. In total, the grants will train 689 employees in manufacturing, technology, logistics and other fields.
The grants cover curriculum development, training materials, instructor certifications and training equipment. Tesla will receive just under $783,000 to train 261 new employees for its battery operations in Brookshire. Texas Tissue Converting and Karsten Management will share just over $690,000 to train 300 new and current employees. Watchfire Signs will receive nearly $84,000 for training tied to advanced innovation efforts.
The grants are part of a $1.7 million rollout announced Oct. 29 by Gov. Greg Abbott. Abbott said the grants will help 689 Texans gain skills for high-demand careers. HCC Chancellor Margaret Ford Fisher said strong partnerships are needed to meet changing workforce needs. Community Impact reached out to HCC about a training timeline but had not received a response before publication.