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HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS -- South Texas College’s Institute for Advanced Manufacturing has the college’s Technology Campus Welding Shop running at full capacity.

Employees from across Hidalgo County are utilizing the institute’s Welding Academy to make themselves more marketable in today’s competitive job market.

Recently the local maquila manufacturing region has seen several companies closing down operations, laying off hundreds of workers.

Currently, welders are essential to manufacturing companies to produce products.

Starting pay for these highly technical jobs started at $12.00 per hour. 

Enrollment for the Welding Academy has increased significantly during 2009, with more than 75 students taking classes beginning at 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. every Monday through Friday for six weeks.

For more information about South Texas College’s Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and its Welding Academy contact Claudio Guerra at (956) 872-6168.