Del Mar College Foundation Receiving Nearly $1.9 Million City Council-approved Grant to Enhance and Expand High-demand Workforce Training Programs
Equipment and cutting-edge technology to keep South Texas Coastal Bend’s economy globally competitive while preparing more graduates for local workforce needs
Article by Melinda Eddleman
As the Coastal Bend economy continues to grow, the Corpus Christi City Council unanimously approved today a nearly $1.9 million grant to help fill the gap between the number of skilled workers available and local jobs ready to be filled. The direct award to the Del Mar College (DMC) Foundation will support the Enhanced Skills Training for High Demand Careers initiative.
The DMC Foundation will use the funds to enhance and expand five existing workforce training programs by acquiring equipment and cutting-edge technology for current and emerging hands-on training that will keep the regional economy globally competitive while producing more graduates whose skills address in-demand workforce needs among area employers.
Prior to the City Council’s grant approval, the DMC Foundation’s request for these funds were first vetted and approved with unanimous support by the Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corporation’s Board and the City of Corpus Christi Type A/B Board.
Del Mar College is positioned to provide world-class education and training to develop a highly skilled workforce, and the support of the City Council and Mayor Guajardo makes it possible to provide the highest quality equipment and technology that lead to high paying careers. The College is exceptionally grateful to the City Council, CCREDC and the Type A/B Board for this funding.
Matthew Busby, DMC Vice President of Development and Donor Advising, adds, “Del Mar College is a leader in workforce development and uses labor market information from the State of Texas and Workforce Solutions Coastal Bend to determine and provide training that meets 95 percent of our region’s most in-demand occupations. Today’s grant approval allows for the expansion and upgrades to the programs impacted by these funds, allowing the College to remain on the forefront as the Coastal Bend and its workforce move into the future.”
The DMC Foundation will channel grant funds to the following five programs or training areas, including Industrial Instrumentation, the Artificial Intelligence and Geospatial Visualization Lab, Engineering and Robotics, Chemistry Lab Technician and Industrial Machining/Welding. These programs proactively address challenges to both sustain and grow the number of graduates entering the workforce and are designed to shorten the onboarding time for new local hires by producing skilled employees empowered with the necessary critical thinking skills that target the region’s workforce demands.
In each case, new equipment will support expanded instruction, increase skills development or add emerging skills training in new areas of industrial and business development. Busby notes, “This investment will enhance students’ educational experience and increase the level of immersive, hands-on training.”
More than 1,400 students were majoring in one of the five programs during the Spring 2024 semester with 396 graduates for the 2023-2024 academic year. The goal is to increase total graduates to 472 for 2026.
The College’s long-term objective is to enhance and further expand training programs and graduate outcomes to provide more support to local small, medium and large businesses that rely on skilled employees.
Eighty-five percent of our students come from and remain in our community, making Del Mar College a primary economic catalyst for the region. As we increase the educational level and workforce skills available to support local business and industry, the College will continue to fulfill its mission`–– to provide access to quality education, workforce preparation and lifelong learning for students’ and community success.
Del Mar College empowers students to achieve their dreams. We offer quality programs, individual attention, outstanding instruction through faculty with real-world experience and affordable costs to credit and noncredit students in Corpus Christi and the South Texas Coastal Bend area. Nationally recognized while locally focused, we’re ranked in the top two percent of community colleges in the country granting associate degrees to Hispanic students (Community College Week). Del Mar College focuses on offering our students programs that match current or emerging career opportunities. Whether students are interested in the fine arts, sciences, business, occupational or technical areas, students get the education they need for the future they want at Del Mar College.
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