San Antonio's tech industry home to a growing variety of companies offering, in some cases, high-paying jobs and room for growth. But to make sure those career opportunities can be extended to local residents, employers say they need people with the specific skills necessary to fill unique positions. That's just one of the reasons schools and businesses are working together to build potential pipeline for the workforce.

In this episode of Commerce Street, a podcast from KENS 5, we're highlighting two companies in San Antonio that are investing in the next generation through internships -- and talking with students at one San Antonio high school about their experiences.

Read more: https://www.kens5.com/article/syndication/podcasts/commerce-street/schools-and-local-companies-training-students-to-fill-high-paying-tech-jobs/273-bef1c75b-ce01-409d-8f18-77db43c15d19

In this episode of KENS 5 Commerce Street, we spoke with W. Jay Treat, PhD, the Chief Manufacturing Officer and Principal Investigator for Texas A&M University's Center for Innovation and Advanced Development in Manufacturing about the center's involvement in vaccine manufacturing, and how the center could lead to more jobs in Texas. Then, we speak with Venkatesh "Venky" Shankar, PhD, the Coleman Chair Professor of Marketing and Director of Research at the Center for Retailing Studies at Texas A&M University's Mays Business School.

Full story: https://www.kens5.com/article/syndication/podcasts/commerce-street/inside-a-texas-center-making-vaccine-components-and-adding-skilled-jobs-during-the-pandemic/273-9a3fde0d-cfc0-464c-8fa8-a3cce85d3157

Toyota Texas, like nearly every business, was forced to pause, plan and pivot quickly to keep workers safe and production steady. KENS 5 spoke with Vice President of Manufacturing Susann Kazunas about how the manufacturer crafted new protocols, the measures that protected much of their supply chain process and progress on reinvestment to update the plant.

Read more: https://www.kens5.com/article/money/economy/commerce-street-toyota-texas-supply-chain-manufacturing/273-adc58a5e-3d71-486f-8ef9-bbf45f80a68f

With out-of-state vacations discouraged, typical tourists cancelled trips amid the pandemic. But some hotels are pivoting to attract people within driving distance.

In this episode of Commerce Street, a business podcast from KENS 5, we talk to a hotel industry research group and consultancy firm and one of the many hotels thinking outside the box and finding ways to engage with customers safely.

Read more: https://www.kens5.com/article/syndication/podcasts/commerce-street/commerce-street-hotel-industry-in-sa-sees-signs-of-recovery/273-72762b80-2629-4b16-9993-25ca8f276a89

Have you started your holiday shopping? San Antonio small businesses hope you’ll choose them for gifts or take-home meal; and a local organization hopes you’ll do it downtown. Without tourists, convention-goers or government workers it’s been a tough year. 

Subscribe to the KENS 5 Commerce Street podcast or listen here to find out Centro San Antonio is helping them survive and thrive.

Read more: https://www.kens5.com/article/syndication/podcasts/commerce-street/saving-downtown-nonprofit-organization-works-with-city-to-help-downtown-businesses-in-need/273-91fcaf53-d0c4-42c8-a0bd-d008ff209aaa

Few businesses have been untouched by the coronavirus pandemic, and retail and restaurants have been particularly hard hit nationwide. The challenges have forced small businesses to be creative to survive or thrive, and there are many examples of innovation during a stressful and erratic time. 

In this week's episode of Commerce Street, KENS 5 spoke with two business owners at San Antonio's The Historic Pearl about the changes they've made and new products and services they've introduced to respond to the changing market.

Full story: https://www.kens5.com/article/syndication/podcasts/commerce-street/commerce-street-san-antonio-retail-resilience-niche-high-street-pearl-coronavirus-safety-shopping/273-abfbcef2-4f8d-4cad-afed-85873da923d3

Longtime San Antonio businessman/philanthropist Harvey Najim and the University of Texas at San Antonio hope a new career center will help form a bridge for students and businesses, helping them find the right fit and test it out before students even graduate.

In a new episode of Commerce Street, UTSA Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Kimberly Andrews Espy and San Antonio businessman/philanthropist Harvey Najim break down plans for anew, groundbreaking partnership between UTSA and local businesses looking for skilled, ambitious workers.

Read more: https://www.kens5.com/article/syndication/podcasts/commerce-street/harvey-najim-gift-to-fund-utsa-career-center/273-4ac1a7a7-59cc-4731-8bd4-d7a9ff100ee9

The first class of students have begun their training at a free new training center at Port San Antonio.

We first told you about Port San Antonio’s plan to transform a former Air Force fitness center into a training hub in August. In this update episode of Commerce Street, a business podcast from KENS 5, we heard from the organizations making the dream a reality and some of the students working toward a better future.

Read more: https://www.kens5.com/article/syndication/podcasts/commerce-street/first-wave-of-students-begin-free-training-program-at-new-port-sa-training-center-commerce-street-update/273-d038efe8-b87f-458b-adfb-2d810338e9c9

Texas will need at least 60,000 more nurses by 2032 than we are expected to have, according to recent studies. In this episode of Commerce Street, a business podcast from KENS 5, we look at a new UIW accelerated program that allows students to use what they have already learned to become a nurse.

Read more: https://www.kens5.com/article/syndication/podcasts/commerce-street/commerce-street-new-uiw-program-to-help-alleviate-critical-nursing-shortage/273-4059cc45-5966-4017-91e2-c1e5dccb698f

UPDATE: San Antonio voters did pass the ballot measure on Nov. 3, 2020, to redirect a one-eighth-cent sales tax portion toward workforce development and job training initiatives.

In this episode from August of 2020, we spoke with Mayor Ron Nirenberg before the plan was fully approved. The plan would connect about 60% of participants with short-term training and certification programs for which job openings are in high demand, such as logistics associates, certified nurse aids and child development associates.

Read more: https://www.kens5.com/article/money/economy/mayor-nirenberg-plan-train-thousands-workers-voters-sales-tax/273-f1b8e7cb-a45f-49b4-b2bc-2dffc18b4b5f