Domtar Personal Care (Domtar) received the Local Employer Award of Excellence for the Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas (Heart of Texas) area at the Texas Workforce Commission’s (TWC) 20th Annual Texas Workforce Conference held Dec. 7-9 in Houston. The award honors private-sector employers that are actively involved with Texas Workforce Solutions and have made a positive impact on employers, workers and the community. Falls Community Hospital and Clinic Inc. was also recognized as one of three finalists for the statewide TWC Small Employer of the Year.
Domtar is a world-class industry leader in the design, manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of fiber-based products, with a commitment to a sustainable and better future. Domtar employs 200 employees at its Waco facility and offers competitive wages and benefits. Domtar has shown a commitment to ensuring employees have the resources and skills to be successful by partnering with Heart of Texas and Texas State Technical College to provide technical training to upgrade employees’ skills through a Skills Development Fund training grant. The company has invested $70.2 million in real and personal property in Texas and installed a new production line last year that resulted in the creation of 40 jobs and used 79 Texas vendors—a $28.7-million impact on the local economy. Additional job creation is anticipated with recent contract expansions with large retailers.
Falls Community Hospital and Clinic (FCHC), located in Marlin, is actively defining what it means to provide high-quality rural health care. This 36-bed, nonprofit primary and emergency health care facility employs 175 people who care for over 18,000 citizens from Falls County, Robertson County and surrounding rural areas.
FCHC’s success is due to its commitment to hiring and retaining highly trained and qualified employees in partnership with the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas (Heart of Texas) and local educational institutions. FCHC works closely with Heart of Texas and has hired all of its new employees through the WorkInTexas.com application, job fairs, and direct referrals. In 2015, TWC awarded over $1 million in Skills Development Fund grants to a health care consortium that included FCHC, and through that consortium created or upgraded 2,295 jobs. FCHC used its funding to partner with McLennan Community College to train 150 new and existing employees serving in roles as department managers, radiology technicians, X-ray technicians, medical assistants and nurses. FCHC also partnered with McLennan Community College to upgrade the skills of 63 of its employees—one-third of its total workforce—and will hire and train an additional six employees.
“I am pleased to recognize Domtar Personal Care, Falls Community Hospital and Clinic and Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas for their leadership and applaud their dedication and commitment to their communities,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Ruth R. Hughs. “Through successful partnerships at the local level, we will maximize our effectiveness and keep Texas as a top destination for new employers and continue to make the Lone Star state one of the best places to do business.”
Heart of Texas was also recognized for outstanding board performance, receiving a $75,000 Child Care Quality Incentive award. TWC Performance Incentive awards recognize boards that display increased accountability and improved efficiencies. Monetary awards for achievement in these categories will be used to enhance workforce service programs during the next year. Heart of Texas also received the Outstanding Service to Workers board award for significantly improving services to workers throughout the Texas Workforce system. Heart of Texas was awarded $30,000 to support services in this area.
Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus was also recognized and received a Partnership Award. This award highlights the important work of community colleges and other entities integral to supporting a skilled workforce.
Texas Workforce Solutions comprises TWC, its Workforce Solutions workforce development board partners and adult education providers across the state. As one of 28 local workforce boards, Heart of Texas serves the workforce needs of Bosque, Falls, Freestone, Hill, Limestone and McLennan counties through locally designed, market-driven workforce development initiatives and services. All employers, workers and job seekers are eligible to take advantage of these services.
