Rachel Grove, Assistant US Attorney with the Department of Justice Eastern District of Texas, joins the show to talk about programs available through the Jefferson County Bar Association and Workforce Solutions Southeast Texas that give re-entrants a second chance to earn a living. Contact Information: Jefferson County Bar Association (409) 835-8647, website: https://www.jcba.org/

Greater Port Arthur Chamber President/CEO Pat Avery joins the show to talk about the millions of dollars in construction projects and plant expansions and their impact on the Port Arthur economy and labor force. She also discusses the Soft Skills Gap that employers are facing when bringing in new workers. Contact Information: Greater Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce (409) 963-1107, website: https://www.portarthurtexas.com/

Sharita Gardner from the Port of Port Arthur joins the show to talk about how the Port of Port Arthur drives economic activity in Southeast Texas, how the port's Camp Seaport program introduces area youth to the maritime industry, and the port's expansion. Contact Information: Port of Port Arthur (409) 983-2011, website: https://portpa.com/

Jo Ikard, District Supervisor - Gulf Coast, Texas Veterans Commission (TVC), joins this SPECIAL EPISODE for VETERANS, ahead of Veterans Day. Ms. Ikard, a USMC vet, talks about how the TVC helps veterans transition from military to civilian life. Contact information: contact: Harold Green – (409) 761-0192; Website: www.tvc.texas.gov

Dr. Thomas Johnson, President, and Dr. Wendy Elmore, Provost & Executive Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, at Lamar State College Orange join the show to talk about the college's initiative to recruit retirees as instructors to train the workforce of the future. Reskilling funds available to students who have previously attended college are also discussed. Contact Information: Lamar State College Orange (409) 883-7750, website: https://www.lsco.edu/

Maris Peno, Program Coordinator at Region 5 Education Service Center, joins the show to talk about the importance of Career and Technical Education programs in our local schools. Maris discusses pathways for students exploring careers, and how Region 5 ESC supports the needs of school districts in our area. Contact Information: Region 5 ESC (409) 951-1700, website: https://www.esc5.net/

Dr. Melissa Armentor and Dr. Ben Stafford from Lamar State College Port Arthur join the show to talk about the college's new craft skills training facility, CDL training facility, and Excelencia Center and how LSCPA has adapted to the pandemic. Contact Information: LSCPA (409) 983-4921, website: www.lamarpa.edu

Ana Pereda and Francisco Gonzalez of LiftFund join the program to talk about funding options for entrepreneurs who wish to start their own business. LiftFund is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that supports small business owners with limited access to capital with emphasis on underserved entrepreneurs. Contact Information: LiftFund: 210-503-2764, website: www.liftfund.com

In this episode you'll hear about hear about how the Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT) collaborates with the workforce system to provide skills training and industry recognized credentials for individuals in Southeast Texas. Discover the various programs offered by LIT, and the tracks that offer the highest earning potential.

Contact info: Lamar Institute of Technology: (409) 880-8321, website: lit.edu

Special guest Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick joins the show to discuss hurricane preparedness, economic recovery from COVID, workforce training needs, and employment outlook on a can't-miss episode of Southeast Texas Works! Contact info: Jefferson County: (409) 835-8466, website: https://co.jefferson.tx.us/