Texas Mutual Insurance Company will award a $100,000 grant for the 19th consecutive year to Kilgore College to continue funding the college’s Risk Management Institute (RMI), which provides free workplace safety courses for community employers, workers and the general public.
Jeremy Hansen, manager of regional safety services at Texas Mutual Insurance Company, will present the funding to KC at a check presentation set for 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 1, on the second floor of the McLaurin Administration Building on the Kilgore campus.
KC is one of 11 colleges statewide receiving safety education grants from Texas Mutual, the state’s leading provider of workers’ compensation insurance.
“We are thankful for this partnership with Texas Mutual and our shared focus on improving workplace safety,” said Dr. Staci Martin, KC interim president. “With this support, our risk management program will continue to equip workers across Texas with the skills needed to succeed and help reduce workplace hazards.”
Over a 27-year period, Texas Mutual has awarded $15.2 million in safety education grants, and more than 83,000 students have attended free or discounted safety and health training offered at colleges across the state. The safety education grants are one way Texas Mutual is delivering on its commitment to build a stronger, safer Texas.
“Texas Mutual values the vital role community colleges play in shaping a skilled and resilient workforce across our state,” said Eric Bourquin, vice president of safety services at Texas Mutual. “For more than 25 years, we’ve proudly supported these institutions through targeted grants that enhance safety training and workforce readiness. Our continued investment in education reflects our belief that safer, stronger communities begin with informed and empowered employees.”
Over the past year, the RMI program at KC recorded 104 total classes and served 1,698 students.
The program also saw significant growth, including a 74% increase in CPR students and a 252% increase in CPR classes. RMI classes increased by 22%, while students per director rose 40%. Overall, RMI student enrollment increased 141% year over year.
RMI at KC offers a wide range of workforce training courses, including CPR and basic life support, active shooter response, OSHA 10 and 30 certifications, forklift operation, hazard communication and HAZWOPER training, safety audits, excavation and trenching, and leadership training for safety supervisors.
For more information about the KC Risk Management Institute, visit www.kilgore.edu/rmi.
About Texas Mutual Insurance Company:
Austin-based Texas Mutual Insurance Company, a policyholder-owned company, is the state’s leading provider of workers’ compensation insurance. Texas Mutual provides coverage to more than 70,000 businesses across Texas, many of which are small businesses. Since 1991, the company has provided a stable, competitively priced source of workers’ compensation coverage for Texas employers. Helping employers prevent workplace accidents is a core part of Texas Mutual’s mission.