LAREDO — Committee members and staff discussed workforce challenges in the utilities department and proposed internships and fellowship programs with local universities and nonprofits as a recruitment strategy.

Committee member Mr. Blanco, who said he serves on a nonprofit board, described the benefits of structured fellowship programs for recruiting and retaining professionals. “A fellowship is a structured program for recent graduates or experienced professionals to gain hands on experience, develop leadership skills, and contribute to the government or non profit work,” Blanco said during the meeting, urging the city to consider paid or credit-bearing programs that funnel trained candidates into municipal service.

Committee members asked about internships tied to Texas A&M International University and TAMU programs; staff said the utilities used to host summer interns at the water plant but the program was discontinued and could be revived. Dr. G said building a reliable recruitment pipeline will require compensation and career-path framing to compete with private-sector salaries.

Why it matters: Staff said recruiting licensed engineers (PE-designated) and experienced operations staff is difficult under current pay structures; committee members framed internships and fellowships as a way to create long-term pipelines into utility careers.

No formal vote was taken; committee members encouraged staff to explore partnerships with TAMIU and other local educational institutions and to return with a plan for internship or fellowship structure and funding.