On April 5, Governor Greg Abbott announced $1.2 million in Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) grants for four schools in North Central Texas by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). The grants aim to support career and technical education (CTE) training programs by providing equipment for over 1,500 students to be trained for high-demand occupations such as architectural and engineering managers, registered nurses, medical assistants, and welders.
Abbott emphasized the importance of investing in the future of Texas through equipping students with the necessary skills, stating, “Investing in the future of Texas starts by equipping our young students with the skills they need to succeed in high-demand industries.” He expressed gratitude to the Texas Workforce Commission and the North Central Texas schools for their support in building a strong workforce.
TWC Chairman Bryan Daniel highlighted the impact of JET grants on the Texas economy, stating, “Jobs and Education for Texans grants are helping to train thousands of Texans who will contribute to the success of our economy.” He said Texas has an important role in the global economy due to its evolving skills of the state's workforce.
The grants were presented at a ceremony attended by state and local officials, school staff, and CTE students at the Workforce Solutions for North Central Texas office. The four grants awarded include partnerships with various educational institutions to train students in different fields:
- Farmersville Independent School District (ISD) received a $330,362 grant to train students as architectural and engineering managers in partnership with Collin College.
- Garner ISD was awarded a $268,156 grant to train students as registered nurses in partnership with Weatherford College.
- Ranger College – Erath County Center received a $331,762 grant to train students as welders.
- Waxahachie ISD was granted $319,235 to train students as medical assistants in partnership with Navarro College.
The JET grants are funded by the Texas Legislature to support the development of career and technical education programs for various educational institutions. The equipment purchased through these grants is specifically intended to train students for jobs in high-demand occupations.
