The Texas Workforce Commission has awarded more than $54 million in jobs and education grants to public schools across the state.
Recipients will use the funds provided through the JET program to purchase equipment needed to support technical education programs that offer students the opportunity to earn a license, certificate, or post-secondary degree in fields including petroleum operations, nursing, welding, automotive, and dentistry, according to the press release.
“Texas continues to cultivate a highly-skilled, diverse workforce through major investments in career and technical education training programs for our students,” Abbott said. “Through this over $54 million in job training grants, more Texans will have the opportunity to pursue good-paying jobs in high demand careers across the state.”
“Texas is the land of economic opportunity, and I thank the Texas Workforce Commission for their ongoing efforts to ensure that our students can grow and thrive in our state’s booming economy,” he continued.
Schools Receive Varying Grant Amounts
More than two dozen public junior colleges, state colleges, and technical schools received JET grants in amounts ranging from $87,502 to $349,999.Amarillo College received $346,340 to help buy and install equipment to train students in Industrial Machinery Mechanics.
Two grants totaling more than $434,500 were awarded to Lamar State College in Orange. The money will be used to buy and install equipment to train students for careers in petroleum pump system operation, refinery operation, gauging, and transportation and material moving.
Odessa College will use its $136,230 grant to buy equipment used to train students for electrical and electronic engineering careers.
Public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools across the state received grants ranging from $30,743 to $749,293.
“It’s important to identify high-demand jobs, but it’s critical to proactively commit resources to ensure Texans are ready to meet those workforce demands,” Bryan Daniel, Texas Workforce Commission chairman, said in the joint release.
A grant of $310,222 was awarded to Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District (ISD). The money will be used to purchase equipment for training students in welding careers.
Venus ISD was granted $398,125 for equipment to train students for careers in mechanical engineering.
Some school districts were awarded multiple grants.
Farmersville ISD received two grants totaling more than $1.4 million, and Keller ISD received three grants totaling more than $1.7 million.
“JET grants represent an important investment by TWC to provide training opportunities for the high-demand jobs of both the present and future,” Daniel added.
