Governor Greg Abbott has announced the allocation of over $580,700 in career training grants to three schools in the Metroplex region. These funds are intended to support programs that prepare students for high-demand jobs as medical assistants and truck drivers. The grants come from the Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) initiative, administered by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).
“Texas’ booming economy is built by our hardworking and highly skilled workforce,” said Governor Abbott. “These grants will empower hundreds of students in the Metroplex region to go directly from graduation into high-demand, good paying careers. Texas is—and will continue to be—the land of freedom and opportunity, where Texans can chart their own path in the better job and bigger paycheck opportunities that we provide in our great state.”
The TWC aims to enhance career and technical education through these grants. TWC Chairman Bryan Daniel noted, “Today’s JET grant awards will allow hundreds of young Texans to train to fill in-demand occupations like medical assistants and heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers.”
The awards were presented by TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Joe Esparza at a ceremony held at Collin Higher Education Center. The event was attended by state and local officials along with school staff.
The grant distribution includes $144,827 for Collin County Community College District to train 101 students as medical assistants; $164,293 for Dallas College for training 108 students as truck drivers; and $271,638 for Denton Independent School District in partnership with North Central Texas College to train 72 students as truck drivers.
These JET grants help cover start-up costs for developing or expanding career education programs across public community colleges, technical colleges, school districts, and charter schools. Equipment funded must specifically be used for training related to high-demand jobs. Details on JET grant awards for this fiscal year will be released soon.
