Students and job seekers in Del Valle just east of Austin have new resources for training in skilled trades and advanced manufacturing. Skillpoint Alliance, which offers training in a wide array of trade and manufacturing disciplines, has opened a campus in Del Valle just east of State Highway 130 specifically targeting potential plumbers and HVAC technicians. Students at Del Valle Early College High School now have training for a possible career at Tesla, with the electric car manufacturer recently donating $600,000 to the school’s Gigafactory P-TECH Manufacturing Studio. Since Tesla moved into the area and began a partnership with Del Valle ISD, more than 100 students have secured full-time jobs with the company. The recent donation was part of Tesla’s agreement with Travis County to donate $750,000 as part of the $64 million tax incentive deal the company received for its East Austin factory.
Chad Swiatecki is a 20-year journalist who relocated to Austin from his home state of Michigan in 2008. He most enjoys covering the intersection of arts, business and local/state politics. He has written... More by Chad Swiatecki