
Stanley Black & Decker grants $25K in tools to Midland College program
Midland College’s Energy Technology department received $25,000 worth of tools from Stanley Black & Decker to support hands-on training for students.
The grant rewards MC’s Energy Technology department for “efforts to help close the trade skills gap and support workforce development initiatives,” the school states.
Midland College is among the first Stanley Black & Decker “Empower Makers” Global Impact Challenge recipients.
“Stanley Black & Decker evaluated 240 entrants based on number of people served, outcomes projected, sustainable impact, depth of programs and diversity, among many other considerations,” the school stated. “Midland College was selected as one of 86 organizations that will help skill and reskill roughly 180,000 participants in 2022.”
A vital role of the community college “is to help supply the current Permian Basin labor market,” said MC President Dr. Steve Thomas.
“We are proud of the work that we do to provide West Texans with training and education programs that lead to high-wage, high-demand careers and to provide local businesses with potential employees who will be able start work as competent, valuable workers,” Thomas said. “I wish to commend Stanley Black & Decker for recognizing this goal and helping us fulfill it.”
Diane Cantello, vice president of social impact at Stanley Black & Decker, expressed pride to support Midland College’s efforts to “skill and reskill the next generation of trade professionals.”
“Our purpose is to support ‘Those Who Make the World,'” Cantello said. “Funding educational programs that revitalize trade careers directly connects to our core mission. Thanks to this year’s Makers Grant Recipients, together we will be one step closer to closing the trade skills gap.”