VIDA receives $75,000 workforce development grant

Representatives of Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement, or VIDA, receive a $75,000 check from Texas Mutual for workforce development. (Courtesy photo)

MERCEDES — The Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement, known by its acronym VIDA, announced it has received a $75,000 workforce development grant from Texas Mutual, one of 48 such grants across the state and intended to foster economic growth.

VIDA intends to use the grant to fund development of pathways for in-demand middle-skill jobs, particularly in the specialized trades, including construction, plumbing, electrical, manufacturing, and more.

VIDA said it is grateful to Texas Mutual for recognizing the value in education to build and sustain a competitive workforce in the communities it serves.

“We are immensely thankful to Texas Mutual for selecting VIDA as one of its grant recipients for workforce development and safety training initiatives,” VIDA stated in a press release.

“Equitable career training opportunities and human capital investment must be prioritized during these challenging times for economic mobility of our underserved residents. In the past, there has been a strong drive to promote traditional 4-year bachelor’s degrees across the board, while undermining many essential short-term or vocational training programs,” the release also stated.

“However, the reality is numerous occupations within the specialized trades offer competitive employment opportunities and career pathways for stackable credentials, apprenticeships, and continued professional growth,” VIDA stated.

For example, the average age of a licensed plumber in Texas is 58, nearly the average retirement age. This means that as these plumbers begin retiring, the Valley and all of Texas will face a workforce gap in the plumbing industry, the release states.

“With Texas Mutual’s continued support, VIDA will continue to close workforce gaps,” Felida Villarreal, VIDA president and CEO, said.

Texas Mutual is a workers compensation insurance insurance company based in Austin.

For over 27 years, VIDA has helped more than 6,000 economically disadvantaged Valley residents successfully complete career training programs in target demand occupations and achieve self-sufficiency.

Last year, VIDA served 534 participants with an average persistence rate of 94% and an average annual salary upon graduation of over $45,000. This is a true representation of human capital investment and aligning workforce skills with local industry demand.

To learn more about VIDA, please visit www.vidacareers.org or call (956) 903-1900.