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Thursday, Sep. 24, 1998
Alice drilling firms receive state jobs grant
Smart Jobs Fund's $50,000 will provide 21 employees with more training
By ANNA M. TINSLEY
Scripps Howard Austin BureauAUSTIN -- Two Alice drilling firms will receive nearly $50,000 in state grants to train 21 current employees, according to the Texas Department of Economic Development.
Delaune Drilling Service, an oilfield services company specializing in construction and maintenance, will receive $22,507 to train nine workers. And RATHOLE Drilling Inc., an oil and gas drilling business, will receive $26,155 to train 12 workers.
The grants come from the Smart Jobs Fund, a workforce and business incentive program designed to provide a skilled workforce and boost Texas businesses' competitiveness, the department's records show.
Texas lawmakers created the program in 1993.
Grants like these, along with employee training, ``stimulate a growing Texas economy and provides a better life for Texans,'' said Rick Thrasher, the economic development department's executive director. ``We want to see more small businesses such as these apply for our grants.''
The grants will help the two firms provide the most updated safety training to keep up with changing federal safety regulations, according to the economic development department.
Factors in these two companies receiving the grants were that they are small businesses that haven't received the grants before, and they offer skills training for jobs that are in demand, according to the department.
Both companies will provide a 10 percent match to the grants in wages, salaries and benefits.
A company is eligible if it has been in business for at least one year, has at least one employee, demonstrates financial viability and has met its state tax obligations.
The maximum grant a company may receive is $1.5 million per fiscal year. Grant money goes for customized training in manufacturing or any job in demand.
In fiscal year 1998, nearly $60 million in Smart Jobs grants were given to train Texans for 46,370 jobs, department records show.Post your comments about local news eventsFront Page || Main Index || News || Business || Texas || South Texas Outdoors || Birdwatching || Sports || Entertainment || Selena || Education || South Texas Attractions || World Wide Web