(WACO) – Texas State Technical College will partner with Coca-Cola Refreshments USA Inc. in Waco in workforce development made possible with a Texas Workforce Commission grant.

Representatives of TSTC, Coca-Cola and the TWC announced Monday the awarding of a $681,114 Skills Development Fund grant. The money will be used to train 277 workers to improve skills in advanced programmable logic control, mechanical drives, electrical theory and drawings and laser safety.

Forty-two of the 277 jobs in Waco will be newly created, while the remaining jobs will be upgraded at the company. The company’s inventory control clerks, maintenance mechanics, forklift operators, labelers and others will receive the training. The average wage will be $21.36 after training.

The grant is being touted as a way to improve safety and workers’ retention and performance.

The workforce training is predicted to have a $6.1 million impact on the Waco area, said Elton Stuckly, Executive Vice Chancellor/Chief Operating Officer, TSTC in Waco.

“I see no losers in this venture,” said  Stuckley. “Everybody comes out ahead.”

The state must continue to develop a skilled workforce to keep Texas economically competitive worldwide, said.Ruth R. Hughs, Texas Workforce Commissioner Representing Employers.

And, TSTC is a good fit because of its tradition of technical job training using grants and partnerships.

“We have the technology to make things happen worldwide,” said Stuckly.

Coca-Cola is the world’s largest beverage company with Fanta, Sprite, Diet Coke, Coca-Cola-Zero and other drinks as its brands. The company is based in Atlanta, Georgia, and is one of the largest private employers in the world with more than 700,000 employees. The Waco production facility is on Imperial Drive.