Joey Gomez
MCALLEN, TEXAS – South Texas College’s Continuing Education and Workforce Development department is helping local small businesses strengthen their workforce.
In partnership with the Texas Workforce Commission’s (TWC) Small Business Grant program, STC is offering free training for companies with fewer than 100 employees and providing up to $1,000 in training funds for current employees and $2,000 for new employees – defined as anyone hired within one year.
Through the grant, employers can access a wide range of trainings, from soft skills such as leadership and customer service to technical or industry-specific courses like Microsoft Excel, CPR or workplace safety.
“The beauty of this grant is that it is flexible,” said Daniela Masten, director of Continuing Education at STC. “As long as an employer can justify that the training helps employees improve their skills or grow in their role, we can make it happen. It’s a great opportunity for small businesses that don’t have extra funds for workforce development.”
STC’s Continuing Education department facilitates the instruction, and classes can be held either on-site at a business or at one of STC’s six campuses.
While the program is open to any qualifying small business, Masten said participating requires meeting certain TWC guidelines: employers must be up to date on their taxes, provide a tax-identification number and pay employees at or above the agency’s prevailing wage for their position.
“This program is about meeting small businesses where they are,” Masten said. “If a company wants to bring 10 employees for customer service training for example, we can offer it at STC or take the class directly to them. We can literally train their employees at no cost.”
The Small Business Grant has been available at STC for more than a decade and has supported employers across multiple industries from manufacturing to customer service. Masten said that some of the most popular training options include Microsoft Office classes – particularly for businesses transitioning from paper to digital systems.
“Many small businesses have long-time employees who are adapting to new technology like Microsoft OneDrive or Excel,” she said. “We can help bridge that gap so their teams can stay productive and confident in a changing workplace.”
Employers can apply for the program at any time, and training can begin as quickly as two weeks after applying with TWC. Masten said approvals often arrive even sooner.
“We are not tied to the academic calendar,” she said. “Once TWC approves the application, training can start almost immediately.”
All courses are taught by STC Continuing Education instructors, hiring faculty or part-time trainers as needed. Masten said the department prefers to use STC faculty whenever possible to ensure quality and consistency.
“Our goal is to get the word out and help as many local small businesses as we can,” she said. “This is a great way for them to invest in their employees without adding financial strain.”
Photo Caption: South Texas College’s Continuing Education and Workforce Development department is helping local small businesses strengthen their workforce through a Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Small Business Grant program, which offers free training for local companies. STC Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR) alumnus Jay Villegas (above) helps operate his family’s business, Frontier Air Conditioning in Mission.
