Fort Worth to Get Jobs Training Center for Veterans

(From Star-Telegram) -- Fort Worth will be one of 10 cities initially targeted for a new manufacturing jobs training program aimed at putting military veterans to work.

Some of the nation's leading manufacturing companies announced the program Monday to help veterans gain the skills necessary to fill some of the estimated 600,000 high-tech factory jobs that remain open because employers can't find qualified applicants.

General Electric, which will soon open locomotive and mining equipment manufacturing plants in far north Fort Worth, and Lockheed Martin are two of the major corporate sponsors.

The companies will work with local community and technology colleges to offer training to put veterans on a fast track to obtain certification in such areas as electronics, welding and machining.

"Every manufacturer needs a welder, every manufacturer needs machinists," said Jacey Wilkins, spokeswoman for the National Association of Manufacturers.

Wilkins said details of what training will be offered and where in Fort Worth have not yet been worked out. The Fort Worth training center should open sometime in 2013. Veterans can learn more about the program by going to the web site: www.getskillstowork.org/

In addition to GE and Lockheed, other companies involved in the new training effort include Alcoa and Boeing. They're providing about $6 million in seed money.

"We have an opportunity to help veterans with extraordinary leadership capabilities better compete for good-paying jobs with a long-term future," said Jeff Immelt, General Electric's chairman and chief executive officer.

The first class of veterans will be enrolled in January at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College in Ohio, near GE Aviation's manufacturing hub. Additional sites will open throughout 2013, including in Fort Worth and Houston.