The Brownwood Economic Development Corporation, Texas State Technical College, and Ranger College have been working in collaboration with Kohler Company and M&F Gauge to identify each company’s training needs primarily related to technical skills.  The specialized training that these companies require made them eligible to apply for a Skills Development Fund Grant through the Texas Workforce Commission, which helps companies such as Kohler and M&F Gauge develop, implement and improve training programs, so that they can hire, retain and advance employees within their companies.

In September, the Brownwood city council approved the BEDC Board’s action to fund a grant match in the amount of $100,000.  This partnership, along with the collaboration between the companies and the colleges, helped the community to be awarded a $1.4 million grant from the Texas Workforce Commission.

Training is expected to begin this month and will provide over 53,000 hours of technical, safety and computer training for nearly 1,000 Kohler and M&F Gauge employees.  City officials said that this grant is a catalyst in the local effort to ensure that Brownwood has a highly skilled local workforce for the local industry employers.  The City of Brownwood, BEDC, TSTC and Ranger College will continue to work with the Workforce Board to identify more opportunities similar to this to enhance the community’s talent pipeline.

Pictured above are Dixon Bailey-Ranger College, Ruth Willis-City of Brownwood, Rachel Tobin-Kohler, and Don Bostic-Ranger College.