The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Firestone Polymers has partnered with Lamar State College-Orange to provide job training using a $307,374 Skills Development Fund grant from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).

The grant will be used to custom train 167 new and incumbent workers with needed skills to transition from contract technicians to permanent employees which will help improve its processes and develop frontline leaders. Those trained will include production and equipment operators, industrial machine mechanics, and warehouse operators. Upon completion of training, the workers will earn an average hourly wage of $31.60.

“Skills grants deliver customized training solutions that help Texas employers and workers succeed in the marketplace,” said TWC Chairman Andres Alcantar. “This investment builds not only employee skills, but the capabilities of our community colleges to the benefit of employers and the community. We are pleased to make this investment.”

“The Continuing and Workforce Education Department worked with Firestone Polymers for months to develop customized training courses to respond to the evolving needs of its workers,” stated Director of Continuing and Workforce Education director, Lisa Cowart. “We are excited to provide this training and look forward to providing similar training to other business partners in our community.”

"I am very pleased that our partnership with Firestone resulted in this grant,” said LSC-O President Mike Shahan. “This training program will help keep our Firestone facility competitive and will strengthen our Orange County economy. It is a great example of the college's commitment to community service."