Texas Border Business
Texas Border Business
AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott announced today that over $6.3 million in Texas Talent Connection grants have been awarded to 20 innovative workforce skills training and job placement programs across the state. Since 2015, Governor Abbott has awarded over $50 million through the Texas Talent Connection grants.
“Texas leads the nation in job creation thanks to our young, skilled, diverse, and growing workforce,” said Governor Abbott. “Meeting the growing workforce demands across existing and emerging industries is crucial to expanding opportunities for more Texas families. Through the Texas Talent Connection Grant program, I am proud to connect more Texans to the skills needed for high-demand careers and help employers find skilled workers to grow their businesses.”
Administered by the Texas Workforce Investment Council in the Governor’s Office of Economic Development & Tourism, the competitive Texas Talent Connection grant program supports innovative education and workforce skills training programs. These programs lead to successful job placements, increased wages, and improved job retention, particularly for workforce populations with special needs.
Among the grants awarded are:
- South Texas College: $126,459 for the first year of the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration (HVACR) Technician Assistant project serving Starr and Hidalgo counties. This grant provides training for the high-demand HVACR technician assistant certification, leading to employment with regional employers in the Rio Grande Valley.
- Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement (VIDA): $350,000 for the first year of the Rio Grande Valley Healthcare Professional Expansion Initiative project serving residents in Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy counties. In partnership with 13 area hospitals, this grant provides training and certification for high-demand healthcare careers, including healthcare support, licensed practical and vocational nursing, registered nursing, therapists, and health technologists and technicians.
The Texas Workforce Investment Council assists the Governor and the Texas Legislature with strategic planning and evaluation of the Texas workforce system to promote the development of a well-educated, highly skilled workforce. The Council’s appointed members represent workforce system partners and stakeholders, including business and industry, organized labor, education, and community-based service organizations. Ex officio members include the Texas Workforce Commission, Texas Education Agency, Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and the Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office. The more than $6.3 million in Texas Talent Connection grants awarded this year by Governor Abbott are Wagner-Peyser 7(b) grant funds allocated to the Office of the Governor by the U.S. Department of Labor to encourage innovation in workforce training and job placement services.
Read more about the Texas Talent Connection grant program at: gov.texas.gov/organization/twic/wagner_peyser_7b_program
