LEDA Recipient of Workforce Excellence Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Fridays, June 12, 2020

Contact: McKenna Dowdle, 806.723.8232

Tweet: For the second consecutive year, @TexasEDC awarded the @LubbockEDA with 2020 Workforce Excellence Award. #LubbockLeads

The Texas Economic Development Council Awarded the Lubbock Economic Development Alliance with 2020 Workforce Excellence Award 

(LUBBOCK) – The Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC) awarded the Lubbock Economic Development Alliance (LEDA) and its partners with the 2020 Workforce Excellence Award, a prestigious recognition for the regional efforts in providing resources to high school students in the South Plains region training for high-demand jobs.

The award this year was based on a $750,000 grant to regional high schools for equipment and supplies in career and technical education (CTE) programs, the High Demand Job Training Grant. Since its inception, the grant has funded 25 area school districts and created opportunities for nearly 2,000 students to train on state-of-the-art equipment. This is the second consecutive year LEDA has been honored for its collaborative efforts related to the High Demand Job Training Grant Program.

The partnership receiving the award included area school districts, the Texas Workforce Commission, Workforce Solutions South Plains, Texas Mutual, Brownfield Economic Development Corporation, Idalou Economic Development Corporation, Levelland Economic Development Corporation, Littlefield Economic Development Corporation, and Plainview Economic Development Corporation. 

“On behalf of our partners, we are incredibly honored to receive this statewide award for our efforts and accomplishments related to serving the region’s workforce development needs,” said John Osborne, president and CEO of LEDA. “As we continue to expand these efforts throughout our region, a new generation of talented and skilled workers will be well-prepared to begin work in Lubbock and across the South Plains.”

The Workforce Excellence Award program acknowledges exceptional contributions by a Texas community or region that has implemented successful workforce initiatives. The TEDC’s Workforce Development Committee reviewed applications from the nominees based on five criteria: innovativeness, transferability, community commitment and leverage, measured objectives and secondary benefits.

“Our TEDC’s Workforce Excellence Award is one of the ways in which our organization honors the outstanding work done by our communities and regions, their leaders, and their economic development professionals in the area of workforce development,” noted Carlton Schwab, president and CEO of the TEDC.

About LEDA

Since its inception in 2004, LEDA has assisted 192 companies with their expansion or relocation to Lubbock. These companies committed to creating 8,714 jobs and investing more than $1.2 billion in new capital improvements that have resulted in $1.5 billion in value-added impact to the Lubbock area.

About TEDC

The TEDC was organized in 1961 and provides information, education and legislative services to its members to foster the expansion of existing businesses, the location of new firms and the development of strategies that promote a positive business climate in Texas. With over 850 members, the TEDC is now the largest state economic development association in the nation.

“There are a lot of attractive factors in Lubbock. And, I think they are going to bring other companies to Lubbock. Other technology companies. Lubbock has so much to offer.”

Brian Cook
FAST Inc.