Texas Governor Greg Abbott has announced that 52 Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) training grants, totaling over $14 million, have been distributed to higher education institutions and independent school districts across the state. The grants, provided through the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), aim to equip students with skills needed for high-demand jobs after graduation.
The funding will support public junior, state, and technical colleges as well as school districts and open-enrollment charter schools in purchasing equipment for career and technical education programs. According to the Governor’s office, more than 6,500 students are expected to benefit from this investment.
“As our economy grows, Texas will continue to invest in the future of our workforce,” said Governor Abbott. “This over $14 million in career training grants will help more than 6,500 Texas students gain the tools and skills they need to go from graduation directly into good-paying jobs. I thank the Texas Workforce Commission and our education partners for training the next generation of hardworking Texans to be part of the better job and bigger paycheck opportunities that we provide in our great state.”
The JET grants will enable students to earn licenses, certificates, or degrees leading directly to employment in industries experiencing labor shortages. The new equipment funded by these grants is intended specifically for use in programs aligned with such high-demand occupations.
“Through initiatives like the JET grant program, we are preparing our workforce to pioneer innovations and thrive on the cutting edge of industry,” said TWC Chairman Joe Esparza. “These grants strategically target high-growth industries, ensuring workers can find meaningful career opportunities while strengthening Texas’ reputation as the best state for doing business.”
Applications are now open for next year’s JET grant cycle. Eligible entities include public junior, state, and technical colleges; school districts; and open-enrollment charter schools.
Funding is provided biennially by the Texas Legislature. TWC uses these funds to offset initial costs associated with developing or expanding career-focused educational programs at qualifying institutions.
A full list of recipient institutions includes Austin Community College ($331,387 for automotive service technician training), Brazosport College ($356,250 for information security analyst training), Dallas College ($164,350 for truck driver training), Grayson College ($362,896 for registered nurse training), among others. Several independent school districts also received significant awards—for example Duncanville ISD was awarded $354,915 to train nearly 1,200 nursing assistants.
For more information about application procedures or eligibility requirements related to future JET grants, interested parties can visit the TWC Procurement Portal website or contact RFAGrants@twc.texas.gov.
