Tyler Economic Development Council

A great day for workforce development in Tyler!

Yesterday, our community was recognized for its innovative forklift operator training program, a partnership between the Tyler Economic Development Council (TEDC), Tyler Junior College, and LTS Material Handling.

This program began with a simple question: “What skills are local employers struggling to find?” Through TEDC’s industry survey process and ongoing conversations with our existing industries, one need surfaced repeatedly—trained forklift operators. Employers across manufacturing, distribution, and logistics sectors identified a shortage of workers with the skills and certifications needed to safely and effectively operate industrial equipment.

Rather than simply identifying the problem, our partners worked together to create a solution.

Tyler Junior College developed the training curriculum, LTS Material Handling provided industry expertise and equipment support, and together we created a workforce program that directly responds to the needs of local employers while opening doors to quality careers for East Texans.

This award is a testament to what can happen when industry, education, and economic development work together to solve real workforce challenges.

Congratulations to Tyler Junior College, LTS Material Handling, and everyone involved in building a stronger workforce pipeline for our community. Tyler continues to demonstrate that the best economic development strategy is investing in people.