The Brownwood Economic Development Corporation, Texas State Technical College, and Ranger College, working in collaboration with Kohler Company and M&F Gauge were presented a $1,358,496 Skills Development Grant by Commissioner Representing Employers for the Texas Workforce Commission Hope Andrade on Thursday, May 7th.

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 Economic Development Corporation agreed 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 the nearly $1.4 million grant.

“This wouldn’t be possible without the companies involved.  Kohler Company and M&F Gauge have a heavy commitment of training,” Andrade stated.  “This grant represents the strength of the Texas economy as two employers, one large and one small, partnered with their community college.  Texas is a state that appreciates and acknowledges our businesses both large and small.”

Training has already begun which will provide over 53,000 hours of technical, safety and computer training for nearly 1000 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.

“It is not every day that our community receives and investment of $1.4 million dollars.  The Skills Development Fund Grant is investing real dollars into Ranger College, who is then in turn investing real money in equipment, supplies, training, and personnel directly for the benefit of our two local companies, Kohler and M&F Gauge,” said BEDC Executive Director Emily Crawford.

Crawford explained that the grant check is symbolic, representing state funds invested into the community’s higher education system, an investment into local businesses to increase safety and efficiency, that it represents the ability for those businesses to have higher production and profit but also represents an opportunity for Brownwood and Brown County citizens to elevate their skill sets which will allow them to secure higher wages.

“This earning potential has a generational impact,” stated Crawford, “bringing families out of poverty, teaching children the benefit of training, making them more likely to pursue it for themselves, and new cycles of opportunity are created.”

Dixon Bailey-Ranger College, Ruth Willis-previously with the City of Brownwood, Rachel Tobin- previously with Kohler, Emily Crawford – Executive Director of the Brownwood EDC and the late Dr. Don Bostic of Ranger College worked to secure the grant.

Pictured above is Commissioner Andrade after presenting the grant check at Ranger College.  Also pictured are Kohler representatives including Jeff Mitchell and Mitzi Dahlberg, BEDC Executive Director Emily Crawford, Brownwood Mayor Stephen Haynes, Ranger College President Dr. Bill Campion and representatives from the Texas Workforce Commission.