Job-Training Group to Get Grant Funds

By Jim Fuquay, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas

Feb. 15–The Fort Worth office of a job-training organization catering to Hispanic workers will share in a $1.1 million grant from the Labor Department that aims to instruct food-service employees, the government announced Tuesday.

SER-Jobs for Progress, an Irving-based organization that was formed in 1965 and has dozens of affiliates nationwide, landed the grant to train about 2,400 workers in Fort Worth, Dallas, Lubbock and El Paso. It was one of five grants worth a total of $4.9 million awarded to organizations in California, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York and Texas with the goal of helping non-English speakers get better jobs.

Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao said the SER grant will be matched by about $552,000 in employer funds.

James Parsons, SER’s director of strategic initiatives, said the money will help underwrite SER’s Sed de Saber, or Thirst for Knowledge, training program. He said work on the grant began about a year ago and may be finalized by March or April.

Parsons said major sponsors include Brinker International, operator of the Chili’s, Romano’s Macaroni Grill and On The Border restaurant chains, along with the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine, Applebee’s, Cracker Barrel and Steak n Shake. The sponsors will help identify candidates.

Richard Vela, executive director of SER’s north Fort Worth office, 303 W. Central Ave., said restaurant owners and managers whom he’s talked to have job openings but want to hire wait staff with experience and customer skills. A training program, which is being designed, could help workers meet that demand, he said.

Jim Fuquay, (817) 390-7552 jfuquay@star-telegram.com

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