Texas Governor Greg Abbott has announced that 52 Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) training grants, totaling over $14 million, have been awarded to higher education institutions and independent school districts across the state. The funds, distributed through the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), are aimed at helping students prepare for jobs in industries where demand for workers is high.
The JET grants will be used by public junior, state, and technical colleges as well as school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to purchase equipment needed for career and technical education programs. These programs are designed to provide students with skills that can lead directly to employment after graduation.
“As our economy grows, Texas will continue to invest in the future of our workforce,” said Governor Abbott. “This over $14 million in career training grants will help more than 6,500 Texas students gain the tools and skills they need to go from graduation directly into good-paying jobs. I thank the Texas Workforce Commission and our education partners for training the next generation of hardworking Texans to be part of the better job and bigger paycheck opportunities that we provide in our great state.”
The new equipment funded by these grants is expected to initially benefit more than 6,500 students statewide by allowing them to earn licenses, certificates, or college degrees leading to employment in fields such as healthcare, technology, automotive services, welding, construction management, truck driving, veterinary technology, dental hygiene, information security analysis, phlebotomy, emergency medical response, and more.
“Through initiatives like the JET grant program, we are preparing our workforce to pioneer innovations and thrive on the cutting edge of industry,” said TWC Chairman Joe Esparza. “These grants strategically target high-growth industries, ensuring workers can find meaningful career opportunities while strengthening Texas’ reputation as the best state for doing business.”
Among the recipients are Austin Community College with a $331,387 grant for training automotive service technicians; Grayson College receiving $362,896 for registered nurse training; Dallas College obtaining $164,350 for heavy truck driver instruction; Del Mar College awarded $306,834 for dental hygienist preparation; Paris Junior College granted $366,917 for aircraft mechanics training; Ranger College allocated $355,063 for licensed vocational nurse instruction; Victoria College getting $280,345 also targeting registered nurses.
Independent school districts benefiting from this round of funding include Duncanville ISD ($354,915) supporting nursing assistant programs serving over 1,000 students; Prosper ISD ($256,500) also focused on nursing assistants; Donna ISD ($337,820) aiding medical assistant instruction; Frankston ISD ($321,458) supporting welding-related fields; Central Heights ISD ($219,849) backing phlebotomist certification.
The TWC is currently accepting applications for next year’s JET grant program from eligible public junior colleges and other educational entities. Application details are available through the TWC Procurement Portal website or via email at RFAGrants@twc.texas.gov.
Funding for these grants comes from allocations made by the Texas Legislature every two years. The purpose is to help cover start-up costs associated with developing new career-focused education programs across various educational institutions. All equipment purchased must be used specifically to train students in occupations where there is strong employer demand throughout Texas.
More information about the JET grant program can be found at https://www.twc.texas.gov/programs/jobs-education-texans-jet-grant-program-overview.
