Bastrop County is Here to Help You Further Your Career or Education

It’s Career and Technical Education month, and the Bastrop Economic Development Corporation is finding new ways to help locals further their careers. BEDC will host a roundtable discussion on February 26 at City Hall to discuss how to best help Bastrop County residents grow their education and advance their careers.

Who Will Benefit from the Workshop

Several workforce development organizations will be in attendance at BEDC’s workshop. Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area (WSRCA) will have team members present to showcase how their work helps Bastrop residents land jobs. WSRCA is a nonprofit organization that specializes in job placement for Texas workers. Their services include layoff assistance, employee skills training, interview counseling, virtual job fairs, upskills training, and employer spotlights for organizations that are looking to hire. Both employers and individuals are able to capitalize on their services. WSRCA provides training and technical assistance to childcare providers, as well as childcare tuition assistance to working parents. Their attendance will help BEDC learn how they can best work together to help Bastrop workers land the jobs they need.

Community Action, Inc. of Central Texas will also be part of the discussion. Their organization’s goal is to improve economic self-reliance for Texas residents. They help Central Texans get free assistance earning a GED, learning English as a second language, or securing a job certification. The organization also provides free classes and certifications for individuals pursuing a career in phlebotomy, CNA, bookkeeping, EMT, or security guard roles. They can help with free computer literacy classes, ESL courses, and several forms of high school completion. Some locations even provide free childcare! Community Action, Inc. is a community staple of economic development.

Staff from the Smithville Workforce Training Center will be attending to provide information about their industry-based credentialed courses. The organization offers more than 20 different courses that are either free or tuition-assisted. Participants can pursue a variety of courses in medicine, allied health, skilled trades, public safety, finance, and Internet technology. They’ve carefully selected high-demand careers, so students have the best chance of employment. Students who participate in courses will also receive help with job placement after course completion.

In addition to assisting working adults, Bastrop County is invested in equipping high school students for the future. Representatives from the Bastrop Independent School District will be in attendance to discuss their work-based learning and dual credit programs for students. Work-based learning enables high school students to secure internships, mentorships, and shadowing opportunities to explore their ideal career path. Through their dual credit program, high school students can also complete college credits during their regular school day, giving them a headstart on higher education.

These are just a few of the impressive organizations that will be taking part in a community-wide discussion to further Bastrop’s workforce development. The workshop is open to the public and can also be streamed on the City of Bastrop’s Facebook page. Be sure to join us on February 26th at 4:30 at City Hall!

The Bastrop region is more than a success on paper – it’s backed by a community of citizens and government leaders who are invested in the future of education and work. To learn more about how the BEDC supports the future of Texans, get in touch with us with us here.