AUSTIN (KXAN) — Central Texas nonprofits just got more money to help their efforts increasing our workforce.

Twenty workforce skills training and job placement programs received more than $6.3 million in grant funding, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Monday.

The funding came via the Texas Talent Connection grant program, an initiative designed to aid “innovative education and workforce skills training programs that lead to successful job placement, increased wages, and improved job retention,” per the release.

Two of those programs are in the Austin area: American YouthWorks and Skillpoint Alliance.

‘Reach out to rural communities’

Skillpoint Alliance received $210,000 from the grant program.

Chief Executive Officer Kevin Brackmeyer said it will help them reach out to rural communities throughout all of the areas they serve.

Brackmeyer said they are setting up pop-up trainings in those rural places. He said the grant will also help expand the times they can train.

“Adding more training sites at night as well as during the day with a focus on specific populations,” Brackmeyer said “One being the veterans that we love to serve.”

Skillpoint Alliance Electrical Instructor Matthew Singer is a veteran himself.

“It’s hard to reach veterans,” Singer said. “Often, large populations are in Killeen and San Antonio. So we try to go to them and provide them an opportunity to transfer from the military into a trade.”

‘Serve more young people’

American YouthWorks is another Austin nonprofit receiving the Texas Talent Connection Grant Program.

“Typically, students are spending half their time in our academic programs, finishing their GED or high school diploma and half of their time in the pre-apprenticeship job training programs,” said YouthBuild Program Director David Clauss.

Clauss said their $350,000 will go towards YouthBuild, a program for young adults who haven’t finished high school.

“Our YouthBuild programs job training is focused around the Austin economy,” Class said. “We provide job training in healthcare, IT, manufacturing and construction in the skilled trades.”

With this additional support, Clauss said they’re able to support over 120 to 150 young people.

The nonprofit said 80% of YouthBuild grads go on to higher education or a job in the Austin economy.

YouthBuild participant Eloy Vasquez is planning for that in his future.

Collectively, more than $50 million in grants have been awarded through the state’s grant program since 2015.

Lutron and Meridian Host Austin, TX Specifier Event to Demonstrate the Transformative Power of Light and Sound

Coopersburg, PA (June 17, 2024) – Lutron Electronics, the trusted leader in architectural lighting, motorized window shades, and lighting control systems, and Meridian Audio, the British Audio Technology Pioneer, recently brought together luxury design professionals to share in a bespoke dining adventure with curated lighting, memorable music, and culinary pairings. The event was produced in collaboration with leading manufacturers’ representative Bell & McCoy and home technology experts Captivate, Inc. The exclusive, invitation-only event emphasized how light and sound can shape experiences and heighten senses in ways that transform fine dining into fine art.

A combination of esteemed local architects and designers attended the event, observing the transformative nature of light and sound through an unparalleled sensory experience featuring Lutron’s Ketra lighting, Palladiom shades, and Meridian audio solutions. The goal? Awaken the senses and immerse guests in magical moments to generate ideas and encourage specifiers to share the promise of luxury experiences.

Six meticulously crafted creations were served from Uchi Austin, an award-winning Japanese restaurant, over the course of the evening. Lighting scenes and sound design were tailored to complement the mood and cuisine, adding a layer of sophistication that enhanced the overall experience without overpowering it.

Demonstration: Light and sound without limits
Two pairs of multi-award-winning Meridian Audio DSP9 Loudspeakers, finished in Piano Lacquer Black and Volcano Orange, immersed diners in authentic, natural, and lifelike sound throughout the venue.

Ketra’s Natural Light solution was integral to the event, offering flexibility in color temperature and light intensity that delivered the bright, white light needed to prepare meals and then transitioned to something softer when it was time to serve and entertain. The minimal profile, beautifully simple Lutron Palladiom Shades integrated seamlessly to help enhance and showcase the space.

“Lutron and Meridian are both focused on addressing the needs and desires of luxury homeowners. With Lutron + Ketra, it’s the power of light. With Meridian, that something is how customers experience sound. Together, our teams delivered a unique multisensory experience of the highest quality for our specifier guests.” said David Weinstein, Lutron’s Vice-President of Residential Sales.

“The evening showcased the great match between Lutron and Meridian, and our shared value propositions. Meridian is in the business of ‘goosebumps’ and our ambition for the event was to elevate the dining experience by seamlessly integrating natural, authentic and lifelike sound with the other sensory elements provided by Lutron and Uchi, enriching every moment with depth and emotion. Feedback from guests was exactly what we all would have wished for. It was very gratifying to hear that our award-winning Reference DSP9 loudspeakers were appreciated as much for their intentional design – ‘functional art’ – as for their powerful, high-end performance,” said John Buchanan, Meridian CEO.

One attendee commented on his personal experience, “This is about creating a 5-star experience for your home,” said Colin Slaughter of Ryan Street Architects. Andrea Alvarez of Matt Fajkus Architecture said of her experience, “Incredible evening. Very engaging and truly amazed by the product and all the possibilities it can have. I am leaving here with some great ideas.”

About Lutron Electronics (www.lutron.com)
Founded in 1961, Lutron Electronics Co., Inc., is headquartered in Coopersburg, Pennsylvania. From dimmers for the home to lighting management systems for entire buildings, the company offers more than 15,000 energy-saving products, sold in more than 100 countries. In the U.S. alone, Lutron products save an estimated 10 billion kWh of electricity, or approximately $1 billion in utility costs per year. The company’s early inventions— including the first solid-state electronic dimmer invented by Lutron’s founder, Joel Spira—are at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, DC.

About Meridian Audio (www.meridian-audio.com)
Meridian is a multi-award-winning British audio technology innovator with a rapidly growing automotive business. In home audio, Meridian is best known for the hi-fi and surround sound cinema products chosen for many of the world’s most astonishing residences and super yachts. For the demanding in-car environment, the company focusses on pioneering DSP and other software technologies, supported by deep expertise in electronics, hardware integration and system tuning. Many of the world’s most ambitious vehicle manufacturers trust Meridian to support their audio system design, adding value to their most premium systems through the addition of the Meridian brand. Meridian is a technology- driven business that invests around 15% of revenue in R&D, ensuring a full pipeline of innovations that deliver exciting upgrade paths for its customers.