New Texas Workforce Commission grant to help upskill 78 employees in the RGV’s manufacturing sector

For nearly two decades, the Japanese multinational Alps Logistics has operated a twin manufacturing plant in Reynosa, Mexico, and across the border in McAllen, Texas. 

Both operations work in tandem to meet customer requirements and need a skilled workforce in engineering, purchasing, customer service, and other roles in the cross-border manufacturing hub. 

But in the manufacturing sector, that means 24-7 production schedules and a hyperfocus on efficiency, so pulling too many workers off their daily duties for continuing education coursework can be difficult in reality. 

“The skills development fund is unusual; it’s not a budget item to build buildings or fund anything other than our employees by giving them an opportunity to improve their skills and get ready to go up in the next position within the same company and stay here in the Rio Grande Valley,” said Don Kurth, vice president of Alps Logistics USA Inc. in McAllen.