06-02-2025
TVCC offering grants for free business training
Businesses with fewer than 100 employees can take advantage of a grant awarded to Trinity Valley Community College to train the workforce in Palestine.
Through the Skills for Small Business Grant, companies can receive up to $1,000 per employee to train staff members, and up to $2,000 for employees who have been with the company for fewer than 90 days. Employees can receive training at no cost to the organization.
'The Skills for Small Business Grant is designed to support companies that usually don't have the budget to pay for training,' said Richard Crosby, associate vice president of workforce education at TVCC. 'Investing in employees can support retention while giving them the skills they need to succeed in their jobs.'
Crosby said TVCC has received $44,000 in grant funds to cover employee training costs. Of that, $10,000 needs to go toward training early childhood education professionals. Training can start at any time and isn't limited to the standard school calendar.
"TVCC is an incredible resource for the city of Palestine, and it's just one of many organizations supporting business owners in the region," said Christophe Trahan, director of the Palestine Economic Development Corporation.
Companies can apply through the Texas Workforce Commission
Crosby said business owners and human resources teams that want to receive free training for employees can apply for this grant through the Texas Workforce Commission. Click 'Apply Now' under the Resource section and complete a form that describes the types of training you need.
Make sure to list TVCC as your education provider so the college is aware you need training services.
If TWC approves your application, it will send TVCC a list of employees who need to be trained and the types of training they need.
Each employee doesn't need to receive $1,000 worth of training. Many TVCC training programs cost around $500. OSHA 10 training costs less than $100, and OSHA 30 training costs around that much.
'We're trying to find programs that support as many industries as possible so this grant money helps the maximum number of companies in Palestine,' Crosby said. 'If a company asks about a specific type of training, we'll see what we can offer.'
Employees can attend training sessions in person at the Palestine campus off Hwy. 19 or participate in online and hybrid coursework.
Crosby said TVCC can also develop programs where staff members visit your workplace to lead the training.
'Sometimes it's easier for one person to drive across town to a company instead of asking 15 employees to travel to attend the training,' he said. 'We'll find a way to make it work for you.'
Training reintroduces employees to the education environment
Crosby said some employees only want enough training needed to do their jobs, but other employees might use this grant program to begin their education journeys. He said they can meet with TVCC instructors and advisors to learn about potential degree pathways and opportunities to learn while working full-time. Basic employer-provided training programs can reintroduce employees to the classroom and dust off their study skills. Crosby said this can give them confidence in their learning skills moving forward.
'Training is essential,' he said. 'It builds confidence for the employee in their current job and in the learning process itself. Getting a taste of training can lead them down the path of a certificate or degree.
'An interest in education and knowledge advancement also helps employers. This better prepares employees to advance in their careers or change jobs within the company. It gives local businesses a more qualified talent pool to hire from.'
The TVCC grant is good for economic development
According to Crosby, once TVCC fully expends the Skills for Small Business Grant, it intends to apply for more.
'Training Palestine employees only benefits the local community and sets several industries up for success in the future,' Crosby said. There's a lot of entry-level skills needed in the Palestine area to get people into the workforce. Some higher-paying jobs require specific skills, but they're not hard to attain, they just need training.'
Crosby used computer literacy as an example.
'Employees don't need specific computer degrees to prove they have these skills; the right training programs will suffice,' he said. 'Upskilling the workforce allows companies to hire locally, which means more employee salaries stay within the community. This can spur economic growth. When one company hires and trains Palestine residents, nearby businesses benefit from those workers spending their paychecks. This investment also leads to better infrastructure and resources through local tax collection.'
Crosby said TVCC has seen a lot of interest from businesses who want to use this grant.
'The college wants to reach as many companies as possible with these funds. The more companies participate, the more value TVCC provides,' he said. 'We are a community college and the word community should resonate with everyone. This grant is an opportunity to be part of the community and give back to it.'
