Using Workforce Grants to Close the Skills Gap: Gulf Coast Success Stories

The Texas Workforce Commission awards tens of millions of dollars in workforce grant funding each year. Gulf Coast employers leverage these funds annually to improve training programs and close company skills gaps. By partnering with Workforce Solutions, employers can access grant funding to build customized training programs and improve operational outcomes.

Here are a few examples of how grants through Workforce Solutions have been used to support local businesses:

Pearland’s Biotech Boom: High-demand Job Training Success

In the thriving biotech sector, the need for skilled workers is growing. Pearland has seen an explosion of growth in biotech, which led to a unique collaboration between Workforce Solutions, the Pearland Economic Development Corporation (EDC), and Alvin Community College (ACC). The EDC and local employers identified a skills gap in biotech material handling—a critical skill that Pearland biotech firms such as Lonza and Millar, Inc. needed.

They partnered with ACC to significantly enhance the college’s training capacity. Pearland EDC leveraged HDJT grant funding to supply essential equipment and supplies, and ACC trained more than 40 students in crucial biotech skills and safety practices.

The program equipped these students to meet the immediate workforce needs of local companies. It provided them with the tools necessary for employment and established a sustainable training pipeline that will benefit the biomanufacturing industry in the region for years to come.

Strengthening the Energy Sector: Baker Hughes and Lone Star College

Skilled labor is in high demand in the energy sector, especially in the field where technologies are constantly evolving. Workforce Solutions, Baker Hughes and Lone Star College came together to create a targeted training program under the Texas Industry Partnership (TIP) program. This collaboration addressed the skills gap among field service technicians, who play a critical role in the oil and gas industry.

The program began with a seven-week, 260-hour course focused on essential skills such as basic mechanics, electrical electronics, hydraulics, and drilling/rig core competencies. Lone Star College provided the technical training, while Baker Hughes contributed subject matter expertise and matched the Texas Workforce Commission’s $35,000 funding contribution.

The program trained 15 students, preparing them for immediate employment in the energy sector. Beyond filling current job vacancies, this partnership strengthened the workforce readiness in the Gulf Coast’s vital energy sector, setting a precedent for future industry-specific training initiatives.

Ongoing Employer Assistance: Love & Joy Personal Care Home

Smaller organizations benefit from grant-funded training programs just as much as large companies. Houston-area nonprofit Love & Joy Personal Care Home faced an ongoing challenge of finding qualified employees. The organization partnered with Workforce Solutions to create a grant-funded on the job training (OJT) program that guided new employees through specialized training and set them up for success.

Beyond OJT, Workforce Solutions also helped with recruiting new employees, writing job descriptions, and ongoing employee and employer coaching during OJT to help new hires thrive in their roles.

These grant-sponsored programs fill jobs and foster organizational partnerships, which builds the foundation for economic success. As industries in the Gulf Coast continue to evolve, grant funding and collaboration will remain crucial in supporting a vibrant regional workforce.

Contact a Workforce Solutions specialist at talent@wrksolutions.com or 713.688.6890 to learn about available grant opportunities in your sector!