ExxonMobil expands support for workforce training to $1 million

ExxonMobil is committing an additional $500,000 in financial support to expand its
commitment to $1 million for the Community College Petrochemical Initiative (CCPI),
which seeks to train students for high-skill, high-demand jobs in the petrochemical
industry.
The Community College Petrochemical Initiative consists of community colleges and
school districts in the greater Houston and Texas Gulf Coast area: College of the
Mainland, Galveston College, Alvin Community College, Brazosport College, Houston
Community College, Lee College, Lone Star College, San Jacinto College and Wharton
County Junior College. The CCPI shares course materials and best practices among the
region’s nine community colleges, and each provides skills training for the region’s
businesses and industries.
In June 2013, ExxonMobil made its first $500,000 contribution to begin the expansion
of community college training.
“We expect thousands of jobs to be coming to the Houston area because of new industry
investment to capitalize on the abundant, affordable supply of U.S. natural gas to
produce chemicals,” said Lynne Lachenmyer, senior vice president of ExxonMobil Chemical
Company. “This program is about preparing area residents to fill those jobs and launch
satisfying careers in a critical industry.”
This week as a Texas Livestock Show and Rodeo sponsor, CCPI is staffing an interactive
exhibit to promote its technical training programs to qualify students to meet the
chemical industry’s current and future workforce needs. The presidents and chancellors
of the colleges, as well as high school and college students interested in chemical
industry jobs, are also participating.
"The nine CCPI-affiliated community colleges have joined together to spread the word
about the great careers we can help launch,” said Dr. Dennis Brown, president of Lee
College and chairman of the CCPI consortium. “The level of interest from residents
in the greater Houston area has been tremendous.”
CCPI expects to attract as many as 50,000 students and educators across the state
over the next five years and fast-track them through certification and degree programs
in a variety of technical fields, including instrumentation, computer and electrical
technology, machining, millwrighting, welding, pipefitting, and other skills and competencies
needed by the chemical manufacturing and refining industries.
“ExxonMobil has stepped up to help community colleges recruit and train more workers,”
said COM Dean of Industrial Education Bill Raley. “The technical jobs that CCPI prepares
students for are high-demand, high-skill and high-wage.”
At an average annual salary of $99,700, the Texas chemical industry’s pay scale is
46 percent higher than the average for manufacturing. Texas is the largest chemical
producing state in the country, supporting more than 73,000 jobs today, with another
81,000 jobs expected through announced investments in new and existing chemical industry
capacity.
The CCPI’s www.gulfcoastcc.org website provides information to locate training programs at area community colleges.