Austin, TX—Skillpoint Alliance—a Central Texas 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides fast-paced, no-cost job training in the skilled trades to lower-income, underserved and under-accessed populations—announced today that the organization was selected by the the City of Austin Economic Development Department to receive funding through the City’s American Rescue Plan Act funds.
Austin City Council approved $4.6 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to provide free occupational training and financial assistance with childcare, transportation and weekly stipends to over 1,100 qualified residents.
“There is a critical need for experienced labor in the skilled trade and manufacturing sectors in Central Texas. The funding from the City’s American Rescue Plan Act will help us expand our programs and provide additional services, like help with childcare and transportation, to our program participants,” Kevin Brackmeyer, CEO of Skillpoint Alliance, said. “The additional funding will allow us to provide more opportunities for vulnerable members of the Austin community, and help them find meaningful careers with great benefits and upward mobility, while also meeting the area’s demand for skilled workers.”
Skillpoint Alliance offers workforce development programs in the skilled trades and advanced manufacturing, two of the City’s target industries. Other target industries include healthcare and information technology.
Participants in Skillpoint Alliance programs often return to the workforce after time away, have experienced a previous hardship, or are looking to learn foundational skills that will set them on a new pathway to employment in a short amount of time.
The funding from the American Rescue Plan Act will be used to expand Skillpoint Alliance programs and the wraparound services the organization offers to program participants.
Skillpoint Alliance offers four workforce development programs: pre-apprentice electrical, pre-apprentice plumbing, HVAC technician and certified production technician (CPT). Students will earn their OSHA10 safety certification and will receive help to obtain industry specific certifications that include the HVAC Registered ACR Technician License from the Texas Department of Licensing and Registration (TDLR), Lean Six Sigma White Belt certification, Texas Department of Licensing and Registration (TDLR) Electrical Apprentice License, Plumber’s Apprentice License from the Texas Department of Licensing, the and Registration/Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners.
Interested parties can visit www.skillpointalliance.org for more information about the program offered.
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About Skillpoint Alliance
Skillpoint Alliance is a 501(c)3 workforce development organization that provides in-demand workforce training to vulnerable members of the Central Texas and Permian Basin communities. The organization partners with local industry leaders to offer unique professional training and educational opportunities at no cost to participants. Skillpoint Alliance was founded in 1994 and has since become the premier provider of rapid workforce training in the nine-county area in and around Austin. Skillpoint Alliance has been named one of the top ten job training programs in the country by Jobs for the Future and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Skillpoint Alliance works continuously to build strong partnerships with local businesses, foundations, community-based organizations, and government agencies in order to grow and support its mission of connecting low-income individuals with career pathways in growing local industries. In 2018, Skillpoint Alliance launched a redesigned and customized Pre-Apprentice Electrical class, followed by a Pre-Apprentice Plumbing program in 2019—and concurrently offers HVAC Technician training, Certified Production Technician, and various other short-term and customizable training options. www.skillpointalliance.org