Texas Workforce Commission Announces Five Finalists for 2011 Texas Workforce Solutions Employer of the Year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT: Lisa Givens
DATE: October 20, 2011 PHONE: (512) 463-8556

AUSTIN – The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) announced today that American Cotton Growers of Littlefield, Associated Hygienic Products of Waco, Minyard Food Stores, Inc. of Dallas, NorthGate Constructors of Irving and the Seton Healthcare Family of Austin are finalists for the 2011 Texas Workforce Solutions Employer of the Year Award.

“Much of our state’s successful business-friendly climate results from effective public-private partnerships between employers and our state workforce system,” said TWC Chairman Tom Pauken. “Each of these employers demonstrates how these partnerships bring positive benefits to Texas.”

The five finalists were chosen from 21 private-sector employers nominated for contributions to their community’s workforce through innovation and collaboration with the Texas workforce system. The nominated employers support TWC’s mission of ensuring that both employers and workers have the resources and skills needed to help themselves and the state of Texas remain competitive in the 21st century.

“Each of these employers has shown a dedication to their employees and to the communities they call home,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Ronny Congleton.

The winner of this year’s award will be announced at the 15th Annual Texas Workforce Conference Employer Award Luncheon in Houston on December 1 in the Galleria Ballroom of the Westin Galleria in Houston.

“TWC is proud to recognize the contributions that these five companies have made to the Texas workforce,” said TWC Commissioner Representing the Public Andres Alcantar. “Each employer exemplifies the kind of positive results that come from collaboration with community partners.”

Also honored at the luncheon will be the 28 local Employers of Excellence for their involvement with the Texas workforce system and the positive impacts they have made on employers, workers and their community.

American Cotton Growers

As one of only five denim mills in the United States, American Cotton Growers (ACG), Division of Plains Cotton Cooperative Association is not only paving the way in denim manufacturing, but also developing programs to enhance their workforce and cotton manufacturing for the long term. Each year, ACG produces an average of 37 million yards of denim, which is equivalent to 26 million pairs of jeans. New technologies employed by ACG help reduce the amount of water and land needed for denim production, creating a high-quality product that leaves minimal environmental impact.

ACG partnered with Workforce Solutions South Plains to take advantage of the Texas Back to Work program and helped put 32 unemployed Texans back to work in 2010. Additionally, ACG worked with Re-Def, Inc., a Lubbock-based nonprofit that specializes in placing and reintegrating ex-offenders back into the workforce, to hire 25 ex-offenders. ACG is also helping develop the workforce by offering English and Spanish as a second language training courses for employees, and reimbursing employees for out-of-pocket training and education expenses, including tuition, tools, and books.

Associated Hygienic Products

Associated Hygienic Products (AHP), one of the largest producers of disposable baby diapers in North America, established positive community partnerships in the Waco area before its plant was even built. AHP used office space at a Workforce Solutions Heart of Texas (Heart of Texas) workforce center, enabling AHP to save approximately $10,000 in rental fees while its plant was constructed. Heart of Texas also connected the company with skilled labor through their workforce services.

AHP chose to locate in the Waco area because it offered a skilled and ready local labor force. Using the Texas Back to Work program, AHP hired 23 individuals this year who had been receiving unemployment benefits. AHP started production last year with 173 employees, and now has more than 220 employees and plans to add up to 50 new positions by the end of 2011. Additionally, AHP employees received more than 7,964 training hours through a $304,948 Skills Development Fund grant from the Texas Workforce Commission.

From the success of this partnership, Heart of Texas has been able to recruit and partner with other large manufacturing facilities, thus connecting even more well-qualified Texans with quality employment.

Minyard Food Stores, Inc.

Minyard Food Stores, Inc. (Minyard) partnered with Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas (Greater Dallas) to provide job experience and mentoring to 30 Greater Dallas customers participating in the Choices program. Because of the partnership, these individuals received valuable job experience through nine weeks of employment. Minyard recognized the value of hiring individuals within the community who may face barriers to employment, but are ready, willing, and able to work. Through the subsidized employment program, Minyard provided real-world experience to this segment of the workforce with the goal of helping prepare individuals for future employment. Of the 30 participants, 17 are now employed full time, 10 of whom are now full-time employees at Minyard. Participants received valuable knowledge, skills, and abilities through the employment program, making them more marketable to employers.

NorthGate Constructors

NorthGate Constructors is a joint venture between Kiewit Texas Construction L.P. and Zachry Construction Corp. to implement the Dallas-Fort Worth area’s DFW Connector Project, a $1.2 billion effort to improve mobility and safety via a key regional transportation corridor. The joint venture is a partner in Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas’ (Greater Dallas) Infrastructure Cluster Initiative, which was established to support a growing regional sector of large-scale infrastructure projects.

NorthGate Constructors and Greater Dallas teamed up to hire nontraditional employees. Through this partnership, NorthGate Constructors has hired 51 employees with an additional 25 offers of employment extended. Among new hires, 22 percent are women, 47 percent were previously collecting unemployment, 33 percent were eligible under the Texas Back to Work program, and 22 percent are veterans.

NorthGate Constructors has provided training opportunities for entry-level employees to improve their skills and increase their responsibilities on the job. This training has empowered underserved populations to gain access to long term trade career opportunities.

Seton Healthcare Family

The Seton Healthcare Family (Seton) is a Central Texas employer with nearly 12,000 employees, serving an 11-county population of 1.9 million. Seton worked with Workforce Solutions Capital Area (Capital Area) and other community partners on myriad projects to hire and retain employees.

Project Seton was one such partnership designed to retrain Seton employees before potential layoffs. Seton has placed nine individuals in new positions, another five in bachelor’s degree programs, and is helping 20 employees attain additional licensures and certifications.

Formed in collaboration with the Austin Independent School District and the Marbridge Foundation, Seton’s Project SEARCH provides developmentally disabled adults with a one-year internship designed to provide education and employment opportunities. Project SEARCH enables participants to gain confidence through their work experience, professional references, skills applicable to many work environments, experience in a specialized field and the opportunity for competitive employment.

Project SEARCH has graduated a total of 42 interns, 50 percent of whom have stayed with Seton, while 30 percent have found employment elsewhere. Project SEARCH will train another 14 interns this academic year.

Posted: 10/21/2011 11:23am