Six schools in North Central Texas have received more than $1.6 million in Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) grants to support career and technical education programs. The announcement was made by Governor Greg Abbott, who highlighted the importance of such training initiatives for the state’s workforce.
“The booming Texas economy is largely built on career and technical training programs that ensure young Texans have the tools to compete in high-demand industries,” said Governor Abbott. “This job training grant invests in the education of students so they can have a better job and earn a bigger paycheck. I thank the Texas Workforce Commission for their efforts to train Texans to build a better future for themselves and for Texas.”
The JET grants, awarded by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), will be used to purchase and install equipment necessary for training more than 540 students in fields such as nursing, mechanics, and truck driving.
“The JET grants awarded today will help North Central Texas schools prepare more than 500 students for successful careers in high-demand occupations,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Joe Esparza. “Working alongside our local partners across the state, the Texas Workforce Commission is developing a skilled workforce to keep pace with the growth of Texas employers.”
Commissioner Esparza presented the awards at Temple College’s Workforce and Virtual Arts Building during a ceremony attended by state and local officials as well as school staff.
The breakdown of the six grants is as follows: Academy Independent School District (ISD) received $330,535 to train 218 students as licensed practical and vocational nurses with Temple College; Blooming Grove ISD was awarded $314,047 to train 16 students as nurses with Navarro College; Hill College received $260,870 to train 96 truck drivers; Navarro College was granted $349,009 to train 100 mechanics; Rice ISD obtained $134,671 to train 90 registered nurses with Navarro College; Temple College received $224,136 to train 20 mechanics.
Funding for these grants comes from allocations made by the Texas Legislature every two years. The JET program helps public community colleges, state and technical colleges, school districts, and open-enrollment charter schools cover initial costs when developing or expanding career and technical education programs. Equipment purchased through these grants must be used specifically for training students in jobs that are considered high demand across Texas.
