Underscoring its commitment to serving the community, Tarrant County College and Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County will celebrate the opening of the area’s newest Workforce Center with a special event on Friday, Sept. 29, highlighting career pathways for junior high and high school students. The event is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Industry Discovery Expo, in celebration of the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Careers in Texas Industries Week, also marks the official grand opening of the Workforce Center. Located at TCC Northwest (4801 Marine Creek Pkwy., Fort Worth, WSTU Building) and housed with the College’s Career Services Office, the Workforce Center provides a full range of services for job seekers, including job listings and referrals, professional workshops, job coaching and more. The Workforce Center also provides services for employers, such as applicant screenings and job fairs hosted on site.
During the Expo, TCC Northwest and Workforce Solutions will host a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the center opening and welcome 1,800 junior high and high school students from area ISDs including Fort Worth, Grapevine-Colleyville, Mansfield and Northwest. The Industry Discovery Expo will feature information about in-demand training programs and interactive demonstrations related to regional industries. Areas represented include aviation, criminal justice, fire protection technology, hospitality and manufacturing. Activities include simulation games, professional headshots, robotics and more.
“This is an opportunity for students to explore all the exciting, in-demand career opportunities available to them in the DFW region,” said Judy McDonald, executive director of Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County. “What a competitive advantage we are providing our future workforce to network with some of the top employers and learn more about career pathways and possible internship opportunities.”
The Workforce Center is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is run by center manager Keycha Jones. For more information, call 817-413-4000 or visit workforcesolutions.net. This location joins five other workforce centers throughout Tarrant County. The idea for an on-campus Workforce Center stemmed from the two organizations’ similar missions.
“TCC is dedicated to providing post-secondary education and industry-recognized credentials to their students, and at Workforce Solutions, we strive for placement of our customers in jobs with livable wages,” said McDonald. “To be located right on the path to those jobs should create an efficiency and synergy of ideas and strategies that will benefit both organizations and the customers we serve.”
“Whether you are a new graduate or taking a new direction in your career, TCC and Workforce Solutions offer the programs and tools to help you transition to the job of your choice,” said Zarina Blankenbaker, Ph.D., President of TCC Northwest. “Bringing together collective resources from both organizations in one convenient location is a tremendous positive benefit for job seekers as well as for employers who count on our graduates to be a part of their workforce.”