May 2011

2011 YES! Expo a Success!

With over 1,200 students and high school personnel in attendance, and 27 schools represented, this year's YES! Expo was a success! There was a 20% increase in attendance over last year, and students had the opportunity to interact with nearly 90 exhibitors. Many local colleges were represented, as well as both public and private sector employers. This 4th annual event was a partnership between Workforce Solutions, Region 12, TSTC, MCC, and KWTX JobBoard. To view details from this year's event, including a photo slideshow, click here to visit the YES! website. 

To view the YES! Facebook page, click here.

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Texas Rising Star Child Care Providers Honored at 2nd Annual ChildOne Early Childhood Recognition Banquet

In celebration of May as Child Care Provider Recognition Month, Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas would like to thank the child care providers in the six-county Heart of Texas region who care for and educate young children so that they are prepared to succeed in school. On April 28, more than 200 child care providers, business and community leaders, and elected officials from throughout the Heart of Texas gathered for the 2nd Annual ChildOne Early Childhood Recognition Banquet. ChildOne, an initiative of Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas, focuses on the health and development of young children.

“The focus of the ChildOne initiative springs from the understanding that early childhood is a critical period for laying the foundation of future success in school and life,” explains Julie Talbert with Workforce Solutions. “Our annual event recognizes the importance of high quality early care and education and those that provide that early care and education to our children.”

Bosque County Judge Cole Word emceed the recognition banquet and charmed the group with his warmth, sense of humor, and inspiring words about the need to invest in and provide quality early education. Susan Gunnewig, Product Development Director with Hatch Early Childhood, Inc., served as the keynote speaker. Her presentation centered on Hatch Early Childhood, Inc.’s IStartSmart Computer System, which is an instructional technology system designed to increase school readiness skills.

Other distinguished speakers were Misty Gipson, Director of Aunt Rosie's Daycare in Mexia, and Joe Nesbitt, Vice-President of Central National Bank.

The event was made possible in part by the generous contributions of the ChildOne Sponsors.  Champion Sponsors are: Texas 2-1-1, MCC’s Child Development Program, Kaplan Early Learning Company, EOAC Head Start/Early Head Start, and Education Service Center Region 12. Visionary Sponsors are: Advanced Foam Insulation of Texas and The Waco Foundation.  Builder Sponsors are Tejas Logistics, Diane and Wes Cowan for Experience Works, Inc., Little Cougar, Inc, and Baylor University’s Family and Consumer Sciences Department. For more information about this event and to find out what parents, providers, and businesses can do to support early education efforts, visit www.childonetexas.com or contact Julie Talbert at (254) 296-5379.

German, a six-year-old boy, demonstrates how easy it is to use the IStartSmart Computer System.

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LINK Launches Re-Branding and
Marketing Campaign

The transition from the former 6 To Success program into the new LINK branding and marketing is nearly complete. Beginning around May 1st, 6 To Success has been slowly phased out as the new LINK naming has replaced it. LINK, as a new brand, better captures the expanded routes, services, and fares of the rural transportation program, as well as represents the many "linkages" provided by the service. Riders will continue to have access to the entire Waco Transit urbanized route system, but the expanded routes along the Hwy 6 and Hwy 7 corridors, in addition to the late evening service for Sanderson Farms, also provide riders better access to employment, education, and recreation.

To see the new LINK website, click here. 

To follow LINK on Facebook, click here. 

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Summer Youth Bus Passes on Sale June 1st

Summer Youth Bus Passes provide unlimited transportation on all Waco Transit routes and will be on sale beginning June 1st.  Students in the greater Waco area and along the LINK bus route are able to purchase summer passes for only $30. The Summer Bus Passes are good from June 1 – August 31, 2011.

Students attending schools throughout greater Waco as well as Marlin, Riesel, Chilton, and Robinson can all take advantage of summer employment, education and summer fun for one low price.

Students and 2011 graduates of area high schools must present a valid high school identification card to purchase a summer pass. Summer youth bus passes will be available for purchase in the administration office at the Waco Transit Terminal located at 301 S. 8th Street, Waco, TX. For more information call (254) 750-1613 or visit www.myLINKtransit.com

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MCC Receives $1M Grant for Local Manufacturing Job Training

McLennan Community College’s Corporate Training department has received a $1 million Skills Development Fund grant from the Texas Workforce Commission to train employees at local manufacturing companies.

Texas Workforce Commissioner Ronald Congleton presented the check today at the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce to Randy Cox, MCC board chairman; Jay Hamme, Coca-Cola Co. general manager; Dalores Paar, Cargill Inc. environmental, health and safety coordinator; Mick Scherr, Tatex Thermographers general manager; and Mike Sullivan, Texas Machine-Tool International Inc. president.

MCC will use the grant to train about 930 new and incumbent workers of the four employers who partnered in the grant. Each company is receiving customized training for their workers to benefit its particular workforce needs.

Training for the grant began in March and will continue through March 2012.

For more information, contact Steve Wenzel at 299-8512 or swenzel@mclennan.edu.

Photo caption, from left: Dalores Paar Cargill Inc.; Ronald Congleton, Texas Workforce Commissioner Representing Labor; Jay Hamme, Coca-Cola Co. general manager; Mick Scherr, Tatex Thermographers general manager; Mike Sullivan, Texas Machine-Tool International Inc. president; and Randy Cox, MCC board chairman

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