06/11/2026
On Wednesday Que Onda Magazine was present as Houston Community College announced the launch of Gulf Coast TradeUp Careers, a new workforce development initiative backed by a historic $17 million investment from Bloomberg Philanthropies — the largest grant in HCC history. The program is expected to expand apprenticeships, skilled trades training, and career pathways for more than 1,350 students across the Gulf Coast region over the next three years, helping connect high school students to high-wage, in-demand careers. We spoke with Margaret Ford Fisher and David D. Itz, who discussed how this investment will help strengthen workforce development, expand apprenticeship opportunities, and prepare the next generation of skilled workers across Greater Houston and the Gulf Coast region.