Falfurrias, Texas – Education to Employment Partners (E2E), a community-based nonprofit organization, has been awarded $25,000 from the AT&T Foundation to improve workforce training and employment opportunities for residents of Brooks County. In close partnership with the City of Falfurrias, E2E will implement the IGNITE Tech Academy to provide participants with access to education and training to further their skills and help them transition into the rapidly growing IT sector. Jeff West, Executive Director of E2E said: “We are so grateful to the AT&T Foundation and to the City of Falfurrias for supporting efforts to provide Brooks County residents with this amazing opportunity. Workforce training in the IT sector is a high-demand pathway for our region and successful completion of this training will lead to increased wages for those who choose to participate.”
E2E, through a dedicated and experienced coordinator, will provide program recruitment, overall program coordination, employability and transferable skills training, and employer matching for on-the-job training or workforce employment. After rigorous in-person classroom instruction, hands-on training, and demonstration of their digital literacy, participants will receive an industry-recognized certification, the CompTIA A+. As part of the program, participants will be connected with local businesses and organizations for additional on-the-job training or employment.
The City of Falfurrias, in partnership with E2E, will provide training classroom space, technical skills instruction, advertising/marketing support, and assist with employer matching for workforce employment. Andy Garcia, City Administrator of Falfurrias, commented: “This collaborative effort represents a commitment from the City of Falfurrias to improve the lives of Brooks County residents while also working to increase the economic vitality of our region. The program will strengthen our workforce and advance economic opportunities by providing local employers with a new source of skilled labor.”
About AT&T Foundation
AT&T is committed to advancing education, strengthening communities, and improving lives. Through its philanthropic initiatives and partnerships, AT&T and the AT&T Foundation support projects that create opportunities, make connections, and address community needs where customers live and work.
About Education to Employment Partners
Education to Employment Partners (E2E) works in partnership with education, community, and workforce organizations to increase educational and job attainment in the Coastal Bend by connecting stakeholders to information, supports, and resources. E2E direct service programs and collective impact initiatives include the following:
- Coastal Bend Regional P-16 Council – leading efforts to promoting a seamless educational continuum that ensures postsecondary and career readiness by providing conferences for students and professional development for educators (www.e2epartners.org)
- Coastal Compass Education and Career Resource Center – a free source of education and career information and assistance, located at La Palmera Mall (www.coastalcompass.org)
- Emerging Professionals Internship Program and Career Training Programs – preparing and placing high school seniors in internship or pre-apprenticeship positions with local employers (www.e2epartners.org/emerging-professionals-internship-program)
- Recapture Your Dream program – assisting adults with some college and no degree to complete their education (www.e2epartners.org/recapture-your-dream)
- UpSkill Coastal Bend Partnership – leading efforts to drive long-term systems change and increased educational attainment in the region by bringing together workforce, education, and economic development experts (www.upskillcoastalbend.org)
For more information, please contact Mr. Jeff West at jwest@edexcellence.org or 361-687-7637.
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