HARLINGEN, Texas - Workforce Solutions Cameron, led by CEO Rafael Vela, hosted a Texas Talent Connection Grant Award Ceremony on Oct. 23 at the group’s Harlingen Workforce Center.
Texas Workforce Commissioner Representing Labor, Albert Treviño III, and Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr., were in attendance, along with education and community partners.
During the ceremony, Workforce Solutions Cameron was awarded a $350,000 Texas Talent Connection Grant to support Project INTERN — Inspiring New Talent for Employment Resource Network. Two additional grants to further expand workforce opportunities were also announced: the Healthcare Internship Grant ($100,000) and the Workforce Innovation Fund — Project C.R.A.N.E. ($250,000).
In an interview with RGG Business Journal, Vela said these grants will provide hands-on training, certifications, and internship opportunities — helping local students and young adults build the skills they need to succeed in high-demand careers.
“Today was a great day. We announced a $350,000 grant, the Texas Talent Connection Grant. It is a pool of money that the Governor of the State of Texas has provided, partnership with Texas Workforce Commission,” Vela said. “I believe, up to today, they've given $40 or $50 million out across the state. So, we were proud to go in there and try to grab those monies, to get our share of that.”
Vela said the grant money will help train young people, aged 16 to 24, for high demand jobs.
“That's a really big focus of what we do. We try to make sure that the resources that we get from Austin are geared towards the jobs that are currently here. And, because they pay more, there's a job waiting for them, there's a demand for them. So that's what today was. It was a celebration of not just a successful grant, but also the partnerships that it takes.”
Vela continued: “I know it sounds almost cliche-ish to say it but it really does mean a lot for us when you partner with private industry, that you have willing members of the industrial complex here in Cameron County that want to hire these individuals. And so, we step in and we partner with them to provide meaningful training. So, it's a win-win for everybody. A win-win-win.”
At a press conference held to announce the grant, two students who will benefit from the training spoke. Vela said their testimony was moving.
“It's so easy to get caught up in the day to day rigors of work but it keeps you grounded when you hear from the individuals who are going to benefit from these monies. And those were just two. There are actually over 230 that will benefit from these grant moneys. But those two individuals, they were awesome, weren't they? It just keeps us grounded. It reminds us why we're here in the first place.”
Vela added: “We've already gone down that path that they (the students) are on now. We've were there a long time ago. So, it's incumbent upon us to be committed to doing things that help the next generation. And today was a perfect example of that commitment.”
In his interview with the Business Journal, Vela also spoke about the challenges WSC faces in helping existing businesses with their employment needs when big attractions, such as SpaceX and NextDecade come into the market and compete for workers.
