Businesses Positive about Welding Certificate Program
A welding certification program is in the works at the North Central Texas College. The program was made possible by the donations worth more than $500,000 from the Graham Economic Improvement Corporation and other organizations that include Southern Bleacher Corp., Graham Community Foundation, and Valew. These organizations will benefit from the pool of new welders coming from the program.
Graham Economic Improvement Corp. director Neal Blanton is optimistic that the welding certification program will be ready for the next semester that begins on August 25. The GEIC was founded in the early 1990s to provide a way to foster business improvement and relocation to Graham. The GEIC board is chaired by former mayor Wayne Christian. They serve as an advisory board to the city. They use funds from the sales taxes collected in town for projects that were approved by the city council.
Last June 5m Graham City Council gave the green light to provide GEIC up to $200,000 to fund the welding certification program at the North Central Texas College. Blanton said that additional $320,000 to $400,000 would be provided by businesses and organizations in the city. The approval would be beneficial to both the businesses as well as the youth of Graham.
The GEIC started talks on the importance of a welding certification program was held with various gas and oil businesses from the city and other people who need a steady supply of welders. The talks were held four or five years ago and didn’t progress until Valew joined the discussions and said that they need 40 to 50 welders.
Brett Manahl, the general manager of Valew plant in the city said that the welding certification program will provide a pool of certified welders for the manufacturers in Graham and will also give the youth a new vocational opportunity.
