Texas Workforce Presents $315,501 JET Grant to Rockport-Fulton ISD

Del Mar College

Rockport-Fulton (News Release) - With new industries and construction growing in the Coastal Bend, welding is a high-demand occupation. According to latest data on the Targeted Occupation List (2022-23) from Workforce Solutions Coastal Bend, the 12-county region’s employment demand for welders was 1,392 jobs offering a median wage of $24.14 an hour.

That demand aligns Rockport-Fulton Independent School District (ISD) students taking career and technical education (CTE) courses in welding with workforce needs in their community and beyond. The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Jobs & Education for Texans (JET) grant, presented a $315,501 award to Rockport-Fulton ISD representatives at Del Mar College’s Oso Creek Campus.

Shown in the picture are (from left) Workforce Solutions Coastal Bend President and Chief Executive Officer Ken Trevino, DMC President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Mark Escamilla, TWC Chair and Commissioner Representing the Public Bryan Daniel, Rockport-Fulton High School Principal Ashleigh Bible, DMC Board of Regent Dr. Anantha Babbili and Rockport-Fulton High School CTE Welding Teacher Andrew Swanberg. (Credit: DMC College Relations Digital Services)

“It’s a wonderful time to be an institution in the state as well as a great time to be in this economic region,” TWC Chairman Daniel said before presenting the check.

Del Mar College (DMC) Welding Applied Technology faculty provided guidance to the school district with procurement recommendations as well as reviewed their proposal for the JET grant.

During the presentation, Rockport-Fulton High School (RFHS) Instructor Andrew Swanberg noted that the JET grant will “help us guide future welders into the field” by providing resources to accommodate more students pursuing welding as their career choice.

The JET grant will support training 127 RFHS students overall as they prepare for well-paying welding careers. Currently, 118 students receive Craft Training Center instruction in beginning, intermediate and advanced courses with the ISD expecting increased enrollment in their welding program next year according to representatives. The program addresses the need for welders, cutters, solderers and brazers.

As part of the grant, DMC faculty are providing expertise and working with high school instructors to rebuild RFHS’s welding shop, which suffered irreparable damage from Hurricane Harvey in 2017. That work includes replacing the ventilation system that will accommodate 22 new welding booths. JET grant funds are covering these much-needed reparations and the expanded shop reconfiguration, allowing more students to pursue CTE courses in welding at the high school.

In May 2023, the College hosted the TWC’s presentation totaling more than $7.7 million in JET grants awarded to 12 Coastal Bend educational institutions.

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Lenora Keas pointed out today, “Those grants were critical in providing workforce training that leads area students to in-demand, well-paying careers, and this grant totaling more than $315,000 for Rockport-Fulton ISD’s welding program is no different.”

“Rockport-Fulton has long been one of the many high schools in the area that offers dual enrollment courses in partnership with Del Mar College, so, we are very familiar with their excellent welding program.” she said, adding, “This JET grant will put at students’ fingertips the instruction and equipment they need to be professionally trained and career-ready.”