Texas Mutual awards $100K to Odessa College safety institute

Yahoo

13-05-2025

May 12—Texas Mutual Insurance Company — the state's leading provider of workers' compensation insurance — is awarding a $100,000 grant to Odessa College to continue funding the college's safety institute, which provides workplace safety courses for employers, workers and the general public.
This is the seventh consecutive year that Texas Mutual has given a $100,000 grant to the college to support its safety training program. The initial grant in 2019 was used to establish the safety institute.
"We deeply appreciate the generosity of Texas Mutual Insurance," Tiffani Price, associate vice president for instruction, curriculum and workforce education at Odessa College, said in a news release. "Together, we are creating a strong culture of safety that reaches far beyond the classroom and into every part of our community. This grant enables Odessa College to provide cutting-edge, hands-on safety training that addresses the changing demands of our regional workforce specifically in the Permian Basin."
Over a 26-year period, Texas Mutual has awarded $14.1 million in safety education grants, and more than 73,500 students have attended free or discounted safety training offered at colleges across the state. The safety education grants are one way Texas Mutual is delivering on its commitment to build a stronger, safer Texas.
Odessa College has leveraged the funding to continue to support Build the Basin—a dynamic program that incorporates virtual reality, video content and interactive sessions to teach life-saving actions and empower individuals to become safety leaders. The grant also continues to support the delivery of specialized safety and rescue training tailored to the energy sector, as well as CPR and first aid courses for the local community and ISD partners.
In the 2024 academic year, Odessa College trained 188 students in CPR and first aid, and 100 students in energy industry-specific safety and rescue techniques. Additionally, the grant allowed the college to provide situational awareness training to local early childhood educators, center owners and staff — strengthening safety awareness among some of the region's most essential professionals. Additionally, it was instrumental in replacing the worn poles in the electrical lineman training yard to ensure safe learning practices for our students and instructors.
"Community colleges like Odessa College are essential to fostering safer workplaces across Texas," Eric Bourquin, vice president of safety services at Texas Mutual, said in the release. "Through ongoing support like this grant, we're not just funding programs — we're investing in the people and communities who drive our state forward. We're proud to stand with Odessa College in this important work."
For more information about the Odessa College safety institute, contact the continuing education department at [phone]. For more information on Texas Mutual and its work in the community, visit texasmutual.com.