With a stellar record of job placement and forward-thinking workforce training, the Laredo College Continuing Education Department is adding the Fiber Optic Technician Training Program to its offerings. Now, students will have the opportunity to step toward a career that will connect more communities to the world wide web faster than ever before.
Through the use of the Building the Texas Broadband Workforce Grant Program, LC was named as one of seven organizations statewide selected to receive over $2.2 million toward the launch of the Broadband Fiber Optic Technician Training Program.
The initiative will cover students’ tuition and build a skilled workforce in South Texas, ensuring communities are prepared for the growing needs of the broadband industry.
LC Community Education Dean Sandra Cortez said the Fiber Optic Technician Training Program will prepare 150 students with a valuable, industry-recognized credential through the Fiber Optic Association (FOA), validating their technical skills in fiber optic installation and maintenance. Students who are 18 years or older and authorized to work in the United States can register and get started on their path to a lucrative career.
This new program offers students clear career pathways into a long-term career in specialized telecommunications skills, with its first cohort starting this fall LC Continuing Education Director Brenda Martinez said. Prospective students will receive similar benefits with other Continuing Education trainings in specialized fields, including highly trained faculty and staff on-site, an industry-reviewed curriculum and all the necessary training equipment provided free of charge.
“Laredo College Continuing Education is actively building and strengthening its employer network to support workforce-aligned training programs,” Cortez said. “Through collaboration with local and regional employers in high-demand industries, the college ensures that training programs align with current workforce needs. These partnerships provide students with increased access to job opportunities, apprenticeships, and employer connections that support successful employment outcomes upon program completion.”
The State of Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Broadband Development Office states that this grant program is a four-year initiative that will strengthen the broadband workforce in South Texas, ensuring communities are equipped to meet the growing demands of the industry. It also supports Laredo College’s mission by providing students with industry-recognized training that leads directly to employment, enhances economic mobility and contributes to the region’s technological growth.