The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority has joined Austin Community College, the city of Austin, Goodwill, Texas Department of Criminal Justice Reentry and Integration, Travis County, and Workforce Solutions to create “a unique life skills program” for workers in the roadway construction and customer service fields. MoveFWD will provide career counseling, hands-on workforce training and job placement for candidates coming from a wide variety of backgrounds, including ex-offenders, veterans, individuals experiencing homelessness and near homelessness, and millennials. Underemployed residents, and those lacking necessary training, certification and education, are also part of the target population. “In order to deliver meaningful mobility solutions for the region, we must have qualified and trained job candidates to build our projects,” said CTRMA Executive Director Mike Heiligenstein. “Equally important is providing high-quality customer service for the drivers using our roads every day. This program will expand the pool of qualified candidates to meet those needs while extending economic opportunities to those in need of job stability.” In addition, MoveFWD connects candidates with social services to support them in the workplace, providing assistance with essentials like housing, work clothes and transportation assistance. “We started with the belief that local bond dollars should help create local jobs,” said Travis County Commissioner Jeff Travillion. “I believe that Travis County residents can be better prepared for those local jobs when we provide a one-stop shop for learning career and life skills. Also critical to success is the provision of social services support. I want to commend the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority for bringing this initiative to fruition. Their MoveFWD program has the potential to be an important tool to fight poverty and help those in need.”
CTRMA builds new workforce support program
