Workforce Solutions Southeast Texas staff accept check for LocalFirst Program. Pictured (l-r) are
Stephanie Ruppel, Mary Hammon, Maris Peno, Roxanne Acost-Hellberg, Dana Willis, Brandy Perkins,
Greg Steward, and Heather Betancourth representing the Golden Triangle Polymers Company.
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Golden Triangle Polymers and Southeast Texas Launch "Local First"
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On March 14, 2023, Golden Triangle Polymers Company awarded $200,000 to Workforce Solutions
Southeast Texas to create and maintain "Local First", an on-line, customized talent acquisition
portal. The portal was developed to prioritize Orange County and the Golden Triangle region
for employment opportunities for the Golden Triangle Polymers Project. The company donated
a total of $400,000 for the Local First initiative with $200,000 being utilized by Orange
County to ensure local vendors, suppliers, and service companies participate in the estimated
$50 billion dollars of residual economic impact of the construction of facility being built
in Orange, Texas.
"'Local First' is a supplemental outreach tool to serve the local community", remarked
Mary Hammon, executive director, Workforce Solutions Southeast Texas. "The program allows
workforce to provide a customized, hands-on effort to ensure individuals interested in
working during the construction phases of the facility can apply for various jobs."
The portal database will include jobs available with the primary engineering, procurement,
and construction (EPC) companies. Workforce staff will provide one-on-one employability
screening to job seekers who register in the portal and offer other services, such as
resume writing assistance and interviewing skills workshops. After screening, job seekers
will be connected to the employers that need applicants with specific construction,
technical, or support skills.
David Godard, project director for the Golden Triangle Polymers Project commented in the company's
press release, "Hiring local talent and supporting businesses in the area is important to Golden
Triangle Polymers. We're excited about the community collaborations we've developed to
promote and manage Local First over the next four years."
Workforce Solutions has initiated a marketing campaign which includes newspaper advertisements,
digital blitz outdoor billboards, radio ads, and targeted email messages, just to name a few.
Two job fairs are planned for the Golden Triangle Polymers construction project, the first is
scheduled June 24, 2023, at the Orange County Convention and Expo Center. Golden Triangle
Polymers Company LLC (GTPC) is a joint venture owned indirectly by Chevron Phillips Chemical
Company LP and QatarEnergy U.S. Investments (2) LLC. The workforce will also collect and share
data on job openings and hiring statistics with the company and local officials as part of
the agreement to meet abatement requirements.
For additional questions regarding the Local First Project, please contact the Workforce Solutions
Southeast Texas board office at 409-719-4750.
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