PFLUGERVILLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORP. RECEIVES AWARD FOR WORKFORCE EXCELLENCE
29 Jun 2022
Press Release, Alerts
PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (June 29, 2022) — The Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC) recognized the Pflugerville Community Development Corporation (PCDC) as the 2022 recipient of the TEDC Workforce Excellence Award for population category 40,001 to 100,000 at the TEDC's 2022 Mid-Year Conference on June 23rd in Corpus Christi, TX. The award recognizes the exceptional contributions of Texas communities that have implemented successful workforce initiatives. Pflugerville is being recognized for its Manufacturing Academy and 3D training that was launched during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are honored to be recognized with the top award in the state for workforce excellence by the Texas Economic Development Council,” PCDC Executive Director Amy Madison said. “With every obstacle comes opportunity, and the 3D training program we designed is an example of that. Shuttered training facilities during COVID forced us to think outside the box, and we responded by creating a manufacturing academy, launched our first class with training on world-class equipment built by Pflugerville manufacturers, and relied on these same experts to develop the curriculum.”
Members of the TEDC’s Workforce Development Committee reviewed and scored the applications from the nominees based on five criteria: innovativeness, transferability, community commitment and leverage, measured objectives, and secondary benefits.
The Pflugerville Manufacturing Academy launched its first class in February 2021, a 3D Training Course that provides an overview of additive manufacturing and training on state-of-the-art equipment owned by local Pflugerville manufacturing companies.
"The Pflugerville Manufacturing Academy and 3D Training Course is another way that the PCDC continues to add value to our area businesses by working together to strengthen the skillful Pflugerville workforce," Mayor Victor Gonzales said. "The Texas Economic Development Council’s award confirms the excellence of the program proudly offered to the Pflugerville community.”
The need for the academy programming surfaced during weekly virtual discussions with local additive manufacturers during the height of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Spring of 2020. These discussions were hosted by the PCDC to learn how to best support their need for a trained workforce.
Students spent 20 hours in a virtual classroom and 20 hours in a local additive manufacturing facility and are introduced to the additive manufacturing industry, learning setup, operation, and equipment maintenance. Curriculum and training for the course were provided by Austin Community College (ACC) in partnership with the PCDC and local Pflugerville additive manufacturing companies Cumberland Additive Inc., EOS of North America, and Essentium.
“Our TEDC’s Workforce Excellence Award is one of the ways in which our organization honors the outstanding work done by our communities and regions, their leaders, and their economic development professionals in the area of workforce development,” noted Carlton Schwab, President/CEO of the TEDC in a June 23 release.
The TEDC was organized in 1961 and provides information, education, and legislative services to its members to foster the expansion of existing businesses, the location of new firms, and the development of strategies that promote a positive business climate in Texas. With over 850 members, the TEDC is now the largest state economic development association in the nation.
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