Governor Greg Abbott has announced the allocation of over $739,700 in career training grants to three schools in the Panhandle area. These funds are intended to support career and technical education programs by providing necessary equipment for training students in high-demand jobs such as emergency medical technicians and nurses.
Governor Abbott stated, “The Texas economy is booming thanks to our diverse and highly skilled workforce. Investments to these three Panhandle area schools are crucial to the continued success of our workforce and building a stronger, more prosperous Texas.” He expressed gratitude towards the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) for its role in facilitating these opportunities for students.
TWC Chairman Bryan Daniel emphasized the importance of these grants: “Today’s JET grant awards will allow hundreds of students to train for critical healthcare occupations like emergency medical technicians and nurses. Our partnership with innovative education institutions supports the success of future job seekers while building a pipeline of talented workers to meet local business needs.”
Joe Esparza, TWC Commissioner Representing Employers, presented the awards at a ceremony attended by state and local officials along with school staff at the Workforce Solutions Panhandle regional office.
The grants were distributed as follows:
– Amarillo College received $311,476 to train 120 students as emergency medical technicians.
– Clarendon College was awarded $97,025 to train 11 students as nursing assistants.
– Frank Phillips College obtained $331,298 to train 100 students as licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses.
These Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) grants are funded by the Texas Legislature each biennium. They help defray start-up costs for developing or expanding career and technical education programs across various educational institutions. The equipment purchased through these grants must be used specifically for training in high-demand occupations. Future JET grant awards for this fiscal year will be announced soon.
