Blinn College-Brenham received the first of two Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) training grants that have a combined value of nearly $900,000 dollars.
On Thursday, TWC presented a grant for $384,469 that will provide safety and skills training for employees of Katy-based Igloo Products. The training will upgrade 277 current jobs and create 64 new jobs. This is in addition to Blinn-Brenham and Igloo developing a a three year technician apprenticeship program where each employee receives 204 hours of instruction a year.
Next Monday at noon, there will be a ceremony at Brenham’s Blue Bell ice cream parlor. TWC is presenting a $500,160 grant to provide job training for 771 new and current employees of Blue Bell and Brenham’s Stanpac USA packaging operation.
Details of the TWC training grant for Igloo Products from Blinn College:
The Texas Workforce Commission presented Blinn College and Igloo Products Corp. an approximately $400,000 grant Thursday to provide safety and skills training for 341 Igloo employees.
Texas Workforce Commissioner for Employers Ruth R. Hughs made the announcement alongside Dr. Mary Hensley, Blinn district president/CEO, and Mark Parrish, president of Igloo Products Corp.
As part of the $384,469 grant, Blinn will provide training in:
· Advanced Scientific Molding
· Certification
· Fire Safety
· Employee Management
· Lockout/Tagout Procedures
· Machine Maintenance
· Marketing
· Occupational Safety and Health
· Precision Measurement
· Rigging
· Supervisory Skills
· Hydraulics, Pneumatics, Mechanics
· Arc Flash Protection
· Electrical Safety
· Forklift Operator Certification
· Technical and Manufacturing
· Machine Guarding
· Processes/Production
· Technical/Business Mathematics
· 10-hour General Industry Program
· Product Design
· Silica Awareness
· CPR/First Aid/AED
· Fall Protection
· Manufacturing Safety
· Lean Manufacturing
· Production
· Distribution
· Oracle Technology System
· Overhead Crane Operations
· Purchasing and Procurement
· Conversational Spanish
· Manufacturing Core Skills
· Transportation Regulations
· Computers
The training will upgrade 277 current jobs and create 64 new jobs.
To facilitate employee training and retention, Blinn and Igloo had already partnered to develop a three-year Technician Apprenticeship Program consisting of 204 hours of industrial maintenance instruction per year to each Igloo employee.
“The partnership we celebrate today benefits Blinn College and Igloo Products, but more importantly, it will change the lives of the employees who learn new techniques, skills and safety strategies,” Hensley said. “It will provide employees the tools and the confidence they need to become workforce leaders, keeping Igloo employees on the cutting edge of their industry.”
Igloo Products Corp. is a Texas-based international designer, manufacturer and marketer of coolers and other outdoor products and housewares. Founded in 1947, Igloo originated the cooler category and remains the number one cooler brand worldwide. For more than 67 years, the Igloo brand has been synonymous with quality, durability and innovation. Offering more than 500 different products, Igloo coolers are sold by more than 110,000 retailer storefronts around the world.
“Lifelong learning is an essential contributor to both individual and collective success, and our collaboration with Blinn ensures that each of us learns something new each day,” Parrish said. “We are proud to partner with Blinn College in our shared mission of lifelong learning and investing in our employees.”
Preview of the TWC training grant to Blue Bell and Stanpac USA from Blinn College:
Blue Bell Creameries and Stanpac USA have partnered with Blinn College to provide job training for 771 new and incumbent workers using a $500,160 Skills Development Fund grant from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). The grant will benefit workers in the Workforce Solutions Brazos Valley area.
This grant will be used to provide customized training to 771 new and incumbent workers for industry-related topics with focused instruction on ammonia refrigeration, enhanced food safety, microbial growth prevention, robot operation training, logic control systems, forklift and welding. Trainees will include diesel, engineering, electrical and welding technicians; crane, blanker, forklift, freezer and refrigeration operators; food batchmakers; procurement clerks; transport drivers; maintenance, packer and warehouse associates. Upon completion of training, the workers will receive an average wage of $16.55.
TWC Chairman Andres Alcantar will present a check to representatives from Blinn College and partnering businesses at a noon ceremony to be held in the 2nd floor ice cream parlor at 1101 S. Blue Bell Road in Brenham.