LSCPA Offers Paid Training Opportunity in High-Demand Carpentry Field
March 02, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lamar State College Port Arthur and Gated Rentals Offer Paid Training Opportunity in High-Demand Carpentry Field
Port Arthur, Texas — March 2, 2026 — Lamar State College Port Arthur (LSCPA), in partnership with Gated Rentals, is offering a unique “earn while you learn” opportunity for individuals seeking training in carpentry, a skilled trade in high demand across Southeast Texas.
The upcoming carpentry cohort, set to begin in mid-April 2026, will provide students with hands-on instruction inside the Gated Rentals manufacturing facility in Jasper, Texas. For the first time, participants will split their day between classroom instruction and paid work experience on the factory floor, earning $12 per hour. This partnership allows students to gain direct exposure to real-world production environments while building foundational carpentry skills. In addition to free, grant-funded tuition, students earn $12 per hour for a five-hour work day, Monday through Thursday each week.
Gated Rentals, a Houston-based builder that owns and develops gated communities of tiny homes in urban locations across Texas, opened its first development in Willis, Texas and is developing a new community in Crosby, Texas. Its Jasper facility manufactures the homes that support the company’s growing footprint throughout the state. Designed for both younger professionals seeking more privacy and ambiance than a traditional apartment and older professionals needing a secure, low-maintenance urban residence, Gated Rentals communities offer the comfort of a spacious apartment within a thoughtfully designed, gated neighborhood featuring walking paths, water elements, and enhanced security.
“This is a rare opportunity in deep East Texas,” said Dr. Ben Stafford, Vice President of Workforce Development at Lamar State College Port Arthur. “Large corporations often offer apprenticeship models that combine paid work and training, but it is uncommon to see this kind of structured, paid workforce pathway available locally. Having students train inside the factory and become paid employees creates the strongest possible transition from student to full-time employee.”
LSCPA and Gated Rentals have previously offered two successful carpentry cohorts. Classes are held Monday through Thursday at the Jasper factory. Students in the upcoming cohort will attend instruction for half of each day and work as paid employees for the remaining half.
Interested applicants must first enroll through LSCPA and then complete the Gated Rentals application process, which includes an interview and drug screening. Individuals interested in applying can begin the enrollment process at:
For more information about workforce training programs at Lamar State College Port Arthur, visit:
https://www.lamarpa.edu/workforce-continuing-education/index.html
Media Contact:
Dani Nicholson, Director of Public Information & Marketing
Lamar State College Port Arthur