Mobility Authority Launches Workforce Development Program to Aid Disadvantaged and Displaced Workers

Mobility Authority Launches Workforce Development Program to Aid Disadvantaged and Displaced Workers

(Austin, Texas)—The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (Mobility Authority), together with collaborating partners, is celebrating the launch of MoveFWD, a Workforce Collaborative of Central Texas MoveFWD is a unique life skills program that combines workforce training, job placement, and social services support to help people who are disadvantaged achieve life-changing, long-term employment, and career building opportunities in the roadway construction and customer service fields.

“In order to deliver meaningful mobility solutions for the region, we must have qualified and trained job candidates to build our projects,” said Mike Heiligenstein, executive director for the Mobility Authority. “Equally important is providing high-quality customer service for the drivers using our roads every day. This program will expand the pool of qualified candidates to meet those needs while extending economic opportunities to those in need of job stability.”

MoveFWD is being led by the Mobility Authority in partnership with Austin Community College, City of Austin, Goodwill, Texas Department of Criminal Justice Reentry and Integration, Travis County, and Workforce Solutions. The program helps people establish careers that provide job stability and benefits by connecting them with all the resources necessary to achieve economic independence and establish a better quality of life. Candidates are provided job training, as well as social services support such as career counseling, housing, work clothes and transportation assistance. Hands-on training programs prepare participants for the workplace and ensure they leave the program qualified and well-positioned for the jobs currently available.

“We started with the belief that local bond dollars should help create local jobs,” said Jeffrey Travillion, Travis County Commissioner, Precinct One. “I believe that Travis County residents can be better prepared for those local jobs when we provide a one-stop-shop for learning career and life skills. Also critical to success is the provision of social services support. I want to commend the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority for bringing this initiative to fruition. Their MoveFWD program has the potential to be an important tool to fight poverty and help those in need.”

The target job candidate population includes veterans, individuals experiencing homelessness and near homelessness, millennials, reentry (ex-offenders), those lacking training, certification, or appropriate education, as well as the under-employed in our community.

“I want to thank all of our collaborating partners for coming together to make this program possible,” said Nikelle Meade, vice-chair for the Mobility Authority board of directors. “Individually and collectively, these organizations bring valuable resources and expertise to MoveFWD and I am very excited about the economic opportunities this program will bring to the region.”

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About MoveFWD, A Workforce Collaborative of Central Texas

MoveFWD is a unique life skills program that combines workforce training, job placement, and social services support to help people who are disadvantaged achieve life-changing, long-term employment. The Mobility Authority created this comprehensive program to identify and prepare candidates for skilled positions within the roadway construction and customer service industries, and give candidates the tools they need to achieve economic independence and establish a better quality of life. The program launched in 2018 in partnership with Austin Community College, City of Austin, Goodwill, Texas Department of Criminal Justice Reentry and Integration, Travis County, and Workforce Solutions. For more information, visit www.MoveFWDCTX.com

About the Mobility Authority

The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority is a local, independent government agency created in 2002 to improve the regional transportation system in Travis and Williamson Counties. The Mobility Authority implements innovative and sustainable transportation options to enhance quality of life and economic vitality in Central Texas. The Mobility Authority operates 183A Toll in Williamson County, 290 Toll in east Austin, the 71 Toll Lane in east Austin, and the MoPac Express Lane in Central Austin. The agency is also finishing construction of the eight-mile 183 South Project in east Austin, and constructing the four-mile SH 45SW toll road between FM 1626 and MoPac in southern Travis and northern Hays counties. For more information about the Mobility Authority, visit www.MobilityAuthority.com.