Overview

PURPOSE

The West Texas Training Center (WTTC) is a workforce training facility that serves the occupational training needs of the Concho Valley region and West Texas. The center and it's consortium partners provide this training via credit courses and programs, customized training, distance education, and by working with regional industry to provide facility space for company-specific training classes.

 

 

 

 

HISTORY

The WTTC is a collaborative effort involving multiple organizations, including Angelo State University, Howard College, the San Angelo ISD, the Chamber of Commerce, the City of San Angelo, and regional business, industry and health care organizations. The training center was planned and implemented to address an identified need within this region: to expand and improve the region’s ability to train a quality workforce. A multi-year planning process resulted in a start-up plan that included housing the training center in a building donated by Levi-Straus, special item start-up funding from the State of Texas, and an Operating Agreement that outlined responsibilities of each consortium partner. The overall goal was to assist the Concho Valley and West Texas in developing a trained and qualified workforce to help attract new business and industry to the region, and in maintaining workforce skills for existing organizations. The first two phases of construction (remodeling) were completed on May 1, 2001, which allowed approximately 50% of the building to be placed into service.

 

 

 

 

 

 



ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Training programs currently in place include Business, Child/Family Development, Computer-Aided Drafting, Computer Information Systems, Cosmetology, Criminal Justice, Cisco Systems, Computer Science, Emergency Medical Technician, Health Information Technology, Industrial Production, Office Administration, Respiratory Care, Surgical/OR Technician, and Vocational Nursing. In addition, the WTTC is serving regional clients with a broad range of continuing education and customized training classes, as well as providing facility space and the related infrastructure for organizations to conduct their own training sessions. The center now serves students in Howard College and SAISD Career and technology programs, as well as adult workers who receive training via industry-specific training courses.

It is anticipated that the center’s usage by students will increase by an additional 350-400 students after completion of phases III and IV of construction. The training center is also a cooperative partner in a wide range of community and economic development initiatives such as the San Angelo Community Network, the Technology Incubator project, and industry recruiting/retention efforts by the chamber’s Priority One board. Feedback to consortium administrators, board members, and regional officials regarding the effectiveness of the training center has been very positive. The successful implementation of the West Texas Training Center is a key factor in sustaining and improving the economic climate in San Angelo and the Concho Valley region.