Governor Greg Abbott announced more than $5.9 million in Texas Talent Connection grants to 18 innovative workforce skills training and job placement programs in communities across the state. These competitive grant awards are administered by the Texas Workforce Investment Council in the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and Tourism. The $5,927,532 in Texas Talent Connection grant awards announced today include:
- New Beginnings re-entry program serving Brazoria County
- YouthBuild Manufacturing Pre-Apprenticeship program; paid training and certifications in manufacturing
- Aerospace/Space/Aviation Technician Readiness Program
- Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning program
- Capital IDEA and Career My Way program; focuses on healthcare, energy, or professional trades industries
- Strategic Engagement for Student Career Planning Initiative; will provide workforce and job readiness planning to first generation students in the areas of manufacturing, automotive, information technology, business, visual communications, and healthcare
- Business and Industry Leadership Team to Supply Chain and Logistics Education program; fast-track, accelerated training in supply chain logistics
- Tech Fundamentals program serving unemployed and underemployed veterans; provides tuition-free job training, credentialing, and job placement in industry-relevant digital careers
- Equitable Opportunities through Post-Secondary Access program; provides post-secondary education, job training, certification, and job placement in the healthcare industry
- Filling the Skill Gap: Expanding Rapid Skill Building in Advanced Manufacturing program; evidence-based program that focuses on rapid skill-building and placement
- Maintenance and Repair Program for Automated Technologies; opportunity to earn a series of Fuji Automatic Numerical Control credentials
- 21st Century – Customers Embracing New Technology Upon Release program; provides reentering citizens with technology-based training focused on digital literacy to aid
- Professional Driving Academy Commercial Driver’s License; will provide Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act eligible trainees aged 18 or older with driver training to earn a Texas Class A commercial license
- Critical Infrastructure Security Training; focused training tied to occupational skill acquisition, job placement, and career enhancement in the utilities and energy industries
- University of Houston – Downtown Cultivating Cyber Security Supporting Skilled Workforce Initiative; will provide underrepresented STEM students with career training in software development, software quality assurance, biotechnical, cybersecurity, and food security
- Rio Grande Valley Industry Specialized Training and Workforce Innovation program; provides training and certifications for allied health, aerospace, and liquid natural gas
- Bridges to Career Opportunities program; provides a workforce pipeline in high-growth industries
- Southeast Texas Internship and Externship Training Initiative; eight-week paid internships in their field of study