About Craft Training Center of the Coastal Bend

In 1987, local industry owners, represented by The Coastal Bend Business Roundtable (CBBR) and local contractors, represented by The Associated Builders and Contractors, Texas Coastal Bend Chapter (ABCTCB), developed The ABC Merit Shop Training Program, Inc. This program was developed to help alleviate manpower shortages. In 1997, the name ABC Merit Shop Training Program, Inc., was expanded to include our DBA The Craft Training Center of the Coastal Bend (CTCCB).

The Craft Training Center of the Coastal Bend, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is situated on a 30 acre campus located at 7433 Leopard Street, Corpus Christi, Texas, 78409.  The $3 million complex currently consists of a 34, 000 square foot state-of-the-art Training Center which includes a 68-booth welding lab; labs for electrical, instrumentation, and pipefitting; a 25-station computer lab, multiple classrooms, and administrative offices.  In addition to the interior areas, the facility features a 20-foot wide covered outside instructinal areas on each side of the building that provide additional training area.  Also included in the complex is a 7,000 square foot Annex building that houses two additional classrooms and a large open industrial training area.

Corpus Christi industrial owners and contractors work together to help maintain a skilled workforce in the South Texas construction industry. Nationally and locally, the shortage of skilled craft workers is growing at an alarming rate. This issue affects every contractor’s ability to stay competitive, complete projects efficiently, and decrease the number of reportable accidents.

The Craft Training Center of the Coastal Bend is an accredited National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Training Center, and all training curriculum for all programs is the Contren® Learning Series published by Pearson Publishing for the NCCER. The Contren® Learning Series includes two methods of skill assessment: Knowledge and performance-based.

Mission Statement

The Associated Builders and Contractors Merit Shop Training Program, Inc., DBA Craft Training Center of the Coastal Bend strives to meet the shared manpower needs of the Community, Business, and Industry by providing education for the construction industry.  Our goal is to develop craft professionals who are experienced and capable under the hightest professional standards.