North Texas Schools Receive $5.5M In Career, Technical Education Grants From TWC

North Texas educational institutions received more than $5.5 million of the more than $54 million in Jobs and Education for Texans grants awarded by the Texas Workforce Commission to public community, state, and technical colleges, school districts, and open enrollment charter schools across the state.

Among the grants awarded were ones to Collin College and seven North Texas area school districts.

The awards were announced by Texas Gov. Greg Abbot. The grants will be used to buy equipment necessary to establish or expand career and technical education programs that offer Texas students the opportunity to earn a license, certificate, or post-secondary degree in fields such as nursing, welding, automotive repair, and dentistry.

“Texas continues to cultivate a highly-skilled, diverse workforce through major investments in career and technical education training programs for our students,” Abbott said in a statement. “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.”

TWC Chairman Bryan Daniel said the grants will benefit the institutions that received them.

“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 needs,” Daniel said in a statement. “JET grants represent an important investment by TWC to provide training opportunities for the high demand jobs of both the present and future.”

Through funding provided by the Texas Legislature and approved by the governor each biennium, TWC uses JET grants to defray startup costs of developing career and technical education programs for public community, state and technical colleges, school districts, and open enrollment charter schools. Equipment paid for through JET grants must be used to train students for jobs in high-demand occupations, the state said. Through the action of the 87th Legislature and in partnership with the Texas Education Agency, TWC was allocated an additional $50 million to provide grants to eligible applicants in fiscal year 2022.

Here are the grants and the recipients:

JET grant recipients for public junior colleges, technical institutes, and state colleges include:

Collin County Community College District – $332,365 – The grant will help purchase and install equipment to initially serve 140 students, providing training in the occupation of Maintenance and Repair Workers.

JET grant recipients for Texas Independent School Districts, open enrollment charter schools, and Windham School District include:

Arlington ISD – $347,933 – The grant will help purchase and install equipment to initially serve 700 students, providing training in the occupation of Registered Nurses.

Arlington ISD – $115,310 – The grant will help purchase and install equipment to initially serve 150 students, providing training in the occupation of Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics.

Farmersville ISD – $746,743 – The grant will help purchase and install equipment to initially serve 169 students, providing training in the occupation of Agriculture Engineers.

Farmersville ISD – $702,240 – The grant will help purchase and install equipment to initially serve 132 students, providing training in the occupation of Marketing Managers.

Forney ISD – $136,036 – The grant will help purchase and install equipment to initially serve 150 students, providing training in the occupation of Registered Nurses.

Kaufman ISD – $98,457 – The grant will help purchase and install equipment to initially serve 135 students, providing training in the occupation of Mechanical Engineers.

Keller ISD – $410,584 – The grant will help purchase and install equipment to initially serve 179 students, providing training in the occupation of Electricians.

Keller ISD – $651,852 – The grant will help purchase and install equipment to initially serve 174 students, providing training in the occupation of Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers.

Keller ISD – $677,849 – The grant will help purchase and install equipment to initially serve 362 students, providing training in the occupation of Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers.

Maypearl ISD – $696,605 – The grant will help purchase and install equipment to initially serve 126 students, providing training in the occupation of First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers.

Weatherford ISD – $337,354 – The grant will help purchase and install equipment to initially serve 298 students, providing training in the occupation of First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers.

Weatherford ISD – $151,813 – The grant will help purchase and install equipment to initially serve 225 students, providing training in the occupation of Bus & Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist.

Weatherford ISD – $129,341 – The grant will help purchase and install equipment to initially serve 647 students, providing training in the occupation of Food Service Manager.