MIDLAND, Texas—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 as a recipient of a Danos Foundation GIVES Grant Award. Skillpoint Alliance Permian Basin will receive a total of $25,000 that will support the organization’s “Reskilling and Upskilling Vulnerable Disadvantaged West Texans Project,” a program designed to help 60 low-income West Texans improve their lives by attaining sustainable careers in the electrical and HVAC fields.
“This funding from the Danos Foundation will allow us to offer our classes free of charge to an additional 60 low-income students residing in rural areas of the Permian Basin community,” Erin Van Evera-Welch, site director of Skillpoint Alliance Permian Basin, said. “Our programs offer a pathway that leads individuals out of poverty by attaining recession-proof jobs that offer great pay, benefits and upward mobility.”
The goals of the “Reskilling and Upskilling Vulnerable Disadvantaged West Texans Project” are as follows:
● Enroll a minimum of 60 low-income individuals
● Graduate 54 students or at least 90% of the cohort
● Ensure 43 students or at least 80% of cohort secure employment after graduation
Skillpoint Alliance Permian Basin will offer at least two rural training programs in the West Texas region, including a night class in Pecos. These rural training programs will take place outside of Midland and Ector Counties, and will target low-income rural students who would otherwise not have access to training programs hosted at Midland College and Odessa College.
Founded in 2017, the Danos Foundation seeks to solve big challenges in the communities where Danos employees live and work. It is funded by charitable contributions from employees and supplemented by the company. Danos GIVES is a grant program that awards funding to nonprofit organizations offering sustainable solutions that meet the needs of our neighbors.
“Through our GIVES grant program, the Danos Foundation is able to provide a greater outreach by partnering with organizations run with excellence,” Mark Danos, CEO Danos Foundation board chair, said. “By partnering with Skillpoint Alliance, we are able to solve challenges by addressing poverty affecting households in West Texas while also addressing workforce shortages.”
The four-week pre-apprentice electrical class prepares students for work as entry-level electricians. The course covers electrical safety, hand tools, power tools, and the differences between residential and commercial employment job functions. Participants obtain their OSHA 10 certification during the program and will receive assistance to obtain their Texas Department of Licensing and Registration (TDLR) Electrical Apprentice License.
The five-week HVAC technician program focuses on curriculum specific to the HVAC trade and covers building codes, pipe fittings, diagnosing malfunctions, and air duct systems. It includes hands-on experience and instruction about aspects of HVAC systems for commercial, industrial and residential buildings.
Skillpoint Alliance Permian Basin training programs also aim to improve soft skills like income management, resume writing and interviewing skills in order to create a well-rounded student and optimal employee.
For more information about Skillpoint Alliance Permian Basin, please visit https://skillpointalliance.org/permian-basin/
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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 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 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
About Danos Foundation
Founded in 2017, the Danos Foundation impacts and improves the communities where employees live and work by mirroring the Purpose and Values of Danos, a family-owned and managed energy service provider. The Foundation leverages time, talent and money to support and promote involvement in activities and initiatives to help solve community challenges. Learn more at www.danos.com/foundation.