Governor Abbott Announces Over $410,000 Career Training Grants To Brazosport College, Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD
Governor Greg Abbott today announced two Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) grants totaling more than $410,000 from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) to Brazosport College and Coldspring-Oakhurst Consolidated Independent School District (CISD). These funds will help the schools purchase and install equipment to train current and future students for careers in the high-demand welding industry.
"Texas' highly-skilled, diverse workforce is an integral part of our state's economic exceptionalism, and the State of Texas is ensuring tomorrow’s workforce has the training needed to support our growing state," said Governor Abbott. "Through these career training grants, Brazosport College and Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD are helping to chart a course for talented Texas students to have good-paying jobs in the welding industry and a brighter future in the Lone Star State."
“Modernizing current training equipment and creating opportunities for our young workforce for one of the state's most in-demand, highly paid occupations is an important aspect of sustaining Texas’ world-class workforce,” said TWC Chairman Bryan Daniel. "Congratulations to Brazosport College and Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD for delivering modern training to students and providing employers with an industry-certified, well-trained workforce.”
TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Julian Alvarez presented the awards to both schools today. The JET grant of nearly $221,000 to Brazosport College will assist the college with purchasing equipment that will enhance existing welding booths with industry-standard wire feed systems, modernizing students' hands-on training experiences. Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD will use its grant of more than $189,000 to purchase welding machines, kits, and stations to prepare students for American Welding Society Certifications in a safe learning environment. Brazosport College and Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD will initially provide training to 130 and 29 students, respectively.
Through funding provided by the Legislature and approved by the Governor each biennium, TWC uses JET grants to defray start-up costs of developing career and technical education programs for public community, state and technical colleges, school districts, and open-enrollment charter schools. Equipment funded through JET grants must be used to train students for jobs in high-demand occupations.
Learn more about TWC’s JET grant program.