(SEGUIN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s New Braunfels campus received the Workforce Champion Award from the Seguin Economic Development Corp. (SEDC) at the organization’s annual Business Appreciation Luncheon on Thursday, Sept. 10.
The event brought together local business and industry professionals and community leaders to celebrate collaboration and contributions made to the economic growth of Seguin. The luncheon was held at Seguin Coliseum.
“The success of our city is not measured only by new buildings, jobs and economic growth; it is measured by the people in this room who take risks, create opportunities and support local causes,” Seguin Mayor Donna Dodgen said.
Mike Anderson, provost of TSTC’s New Braunfels campus, attributed the recognition to the college’s internal and external partnerships.
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“We have a lot of companies that have been wanting to work with us and develop partnerships, and internally, working with the people that are here was a big part of that as well,” he said.
More than 190 students are currently attending TSTC’s New Braunfels campus. Students can pursue associate degrees and certifications in the Building Construction, Advanced Manufacturing – Industrial Maintenance, and Welding programs.
The campus has a partnership with the Texas Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (TxFAME) Lone Star Chapter for the Industrial Systems – Advanced Manufacturing (FAME) program, enabling students to be sponsored by companies in the Comal and Guadalupe County area to take courses and work at the same time. Some of the program’s industry partners include Aumovio and Caterpillar.
“TSTC has shown again and again that they are committed to being a partner in the community, while also investing in the workforce we need tomorrow,” said Alora M. Wachholz, the SEDC’s executive director.
Like TSTC, the city of Seguin is growing.
Information from the SEDC indicates six people per day have moved to Seguin in the past year. The city’s population is projected to grow to at least 50,000 residents by 2030.
Job creation has contributed to a 5.9 percent reduction in poverty since 2016, according to the SEDC. The largest industrial sector in the city is manufacturing, which represents about 30 percent of the workforce.
TSTC has plans to expand into Guadalupe County in the future.
“We have to continue growing as the premier workforce developer and workforce trainer in the area,” Anderson said. “We need to double-down on the things we have been doing and learn new things, and we need to grow and continue doing better.”
