City of Abilene receives workforce award
June 2, 2007
The city of Abilene has received a Texas Economic Development Council Workforce Best Practices Award for its implementation of the Fast Track Welding project. Abilene was recognized in the category of cities with a population of 100,001 and above. The Fast Track Welding project was developed through the Development Cooperation of Abilene, Cisco Junior College, four local employers and the Workforce Development Board to assist in filling 200 welding jobs in the Abilene area. Funds totaling $124,000 were committed for this project by the DCOA to train 48 people in entry-level welding. The course was made up of 48 hours of employability skills training through the Workforce Center, 128 hours of welding training with CJC and four hours of safety training certification. Thirty-eight people successfully completed the first three courses. Due to the success of this program, the DCOA received a Workforce Investment Fund grant for $50,000, matched by $26,000 from the DCOA, to conduct two more Fast Track Welding courses this spring.
