Big Spring Economic Development was awarded the Workforce Excellence Award in the category of cities with a population of 15,001 to 40,000 by the Texas Economic Development Council. The Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC) is an Austin-based, statewide, non-profit professional association dedicated to the development of economic and employment opportunities in Texas.
In early 2009, the Big Spring Economic Development Board (BSEDC) met with the Howard College Department of Workforce Training (HCDWT) to discuss methods by which the BSEDC could assist HCDWT in training efforts for incumbent employees, dislocated adult workers and at-risk youth in the Howard County area. Subsequent meetings led to the participation and partnerships of several local key businesses and industry members, who stated, collectively, that new training should stem from green energy concerns across the Permian Basin. Owners and staff of Price Construction, the Colorado Water Municipal Water District, Alon, Western Container, Paint & Safety and others, met with BSEDC members and HCWDT administrators to ascertain the largest and fast growing employer needs in the area. All parties agreed that the biggest employment needs are in the areas of welding, heavy equipment operation, hydraulics, and electrical. The ability to place qualified workers in these fields would greatly encourage economic development efforts in Howard County by supplying viable employees to employers who are currently experiencing a worker shortage. The shortage, it was agreed, had stifled economic projects, created the need to look outside the area for employees.
The group created a plan to incorporate intense workforce training in the above areas through the Howard College Department of Workforce Training, with curriculum development input from employers and instructors. All courses would have to be certified through a national trade organization for appropriate, up-to-date, state-of-the-art curriculum. This major objective would necessitate a roster of qualified instructors; purchase of new, viable equipment and software; renovation of the HC workforce building and a written plan to recruit, nurture and retain students for the duration of the coursework. In addition, with assistance from HC personnel and human resource departments from participating business and industry, students would receive entry into the workforce.
Because of the partnership between BSEDC and HCWDT, training opportunities were increased for dual-enrollment students in the three area independent school districts. Juniors and seniors from Coahoma High School, Forsan High School and Big Spring High School are now able to enroll in the classes and obtain credit or certification while still enrolled in high school. Howard College is now at work collaborating with each of the districts on the best methods to ensure recruitment of students while acknowledging their high school schedules. In addition to the BSEDC, Howard College and the three area school districts, local employers have committed to a continual expression of their needs in order to provide HC with insight and strategy for appropriate training.
The BSEDC funding to Howard College has encouraged new partnerships in the community that will assist in economic development to the region. Importantly, the funding has created many opportunities for individuals to positively change their current unemployment status, their standard of living and to engage in future opportunities for advanced training.
Perhaps the most significant benefit of the program was the coming together of several public and private entities to serve a very important united cause to positively impact our community. Partnerships were formed and new liaisons were created among organizations and individuals to directly affect not only economic development for Howard County and Big Spring, but to provide training and employment to those in need, and who will, as a result of enrolling in, and completing, the training, become productive members of the labor force.
