Tom Sellers of Austin is retired after more than 40 years of service with ConocoPhillips. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas and the Leadership Austin Class of 2003. He is the governance chair for the Austin Symphony Orchestra Board of Trustees Executive Committee. Additionally, he is former chair of the Long Center for the Performing Arts Board of Trustees and a former board member of the Texas Oil and Gas Association, Texas Civil Justice League, and the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association. Sellers received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Petroleum Land Management from The University of Texas at Austin and a Juris Doctor from South Texas College of Law.

The JET grants, awarded through the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), will help schools buy equipment to start or improve career and technical education (CTE) training programs that lead to high-demand careers. In the first year alone, the new equipment will help train more than 7,400 students.

“Students deserve a clear and affordable path to high-paying careers,” said Governor Abbott. “Through more than $20 million in career training grants, Texas students will have the opportunity to earn licenses, certificates, or college degrees that lead to high-wage jobs. By investing in our students today, we are building a stronger Texas for generations to come.”

“A skilled workforce is essential to the success of Texas businesses and the strength of our economy,” said TWC Chairman Joe Esparza. “With more than $20 million in funding for career and technical education programs, TWC is investing the skills young Texans need to build their careers and ensure employers have the talent pipeline they need to thrive.”

The 2026 JET grants will be used to purchase and install equipment at the following public junior, technical, and state colleges:

• Alamo College (Northwest Vista College): a $375,000 grant to train 300 students as data scientists.
• Angelina Jr College District: a $305,116 grant to train 100 students as registered nurses.
• Brazosport College: a $222,509 grant to train 80 students as registered nurses.
• Coastal Bend College: a $350,987 grant to train 38 students as radiologic technologists and technicians.
• College of the Mainland: a $355,686 grant to train 146 students as registered nurses.
• Collin College: a $346,697 grant to train 120 students as welders.
• El Paso County Community College District: a $283,385 grant to train 12 students as electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians.
• Galveston College: a $293,886 grant to train 320 students as welders.
• Grayson College: a $375,000 grant to train 75 students as HVAC mechanics and installers.
• Lamar State College Orange: a $97,026 grant to train 80 students as emergency medical technicians.
• Lamar State College Port Arthur: a $141,907 grant to train 10 students as welders.
• Lee College: a $97,964 grant to train 15 students as engineering technologists and technicians.
• Lone Star College: a $49,667 grant to train 120 students as engineering technologists and technicians.
• Midland College: a $319,043 grant to train 420 students as automotive service technicians and mechanics.
• Navarro College: a $361,209 grant to train 30 students as industrial machinery mechanics.
• North Central Texas College: a $317,136 grant to train 25 students as electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians.
• Paris Junior College: a $362,697 grant to train 40 students as HVAC mechanics and installers.
• San Jacinto Community College: a $130,643 grant to train 83 students as captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels.
• South Texas College: a $216,293 grant to train 200 students as licensed practical and vocational nurses.
• Southwest Texas College: a $311,125 grant to train 36 students as aircraft mechanics and service technicians.
• Tarrant County College District: a $55,673 grant to train 140 students as welders.
• Temple College: a $354,112 grant to train 38 students as diagnostic medical sonographers.
• Texas State Technical College: a $339,480 grant to train 254 students as automotive service technicians and mechanics.
• Vernon College: a $295,447 grant to train 94 students as registered nurses.
• Weatherford College: a $66,500 grant to train 24 students as engineering technologists and technicians.
• Western Texas College: a $192,500 grant to train 30 students as heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers.
• Wharton County Junior College: a $329,091 grant to train 35 students as HVAC mechanics and installers.

JET grants awarded in 2026 will also be used to purchase and install equipment at the following Texas school districts and open-enrollment charter schools:

• Agua Dulce Independent School District (ISD): a $195,823 grant to train 20 students as petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers in partnership with Del Mar College.
• Anahuac ISD: a $356,250 grant to train 100 students as health technologists and technicians in partnership with Lee College.
• Archer City ISD: a $76,617 grant to train 5 students as medical assistants in partnership with Vernon College.
• Austin ISD: a $209,288 grant to train 15 students as HVAC mechanics and installers in partnership with Austin Community College.
• Benavides ISD: a $155,056 grant to train 23 students as electricians in partnership with Del Mar College.
• Blooming Grove ISD: a $168,084 grant to train 88 students as licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in partnership with Navarro College.
• Blue Ridge ISD: a $346,185 grant to train 135 students as welders in partnership with Collin College.
• Booker ISD: a $356,112 grant to train 42 students as registered nurses in partnership with Frank Phillips College.
• Brownsboro ISD: a $353,699 grant to train 75 students as electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians in partnership with Trinity Valley Community College.
• Carrizo Springs Consolidated Independent School District (CISD): a $355,991 grant to train 150 students as registered nurses in partnership with Southwest Texas College.
• Celeste ISD: a $322,736 grant to train 49 students as welders in partnership with Paris Junior College.
• Chester ISD: a $59,123 grant to train 111 students as machinists in partnership with Lamar State College Orange (LSCO).
• Como-Pickton CISD: a $350,467 grant to train 60 students as welders in partnership with Northeast Texas Community College.
• Dawson ISD: a $200,207 grant to train 40 students as licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in partnership with Navarro College.
• Dilley ISD: a $270,696 grant to train 30 students as licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in partnership with Southwest Texas College.
• Early ISD: a $145,870 grant to train 176 students as medical assistants in partnership with Ranger College.
• Fannindel ISD: a $134,714 grant to train 30 students as welders in partnership with Paris Junior College.
• Fayetteville ISD: a $355,176 grant to train 40 students as welders in partnership with Blinn College District.
• Florence ISD: a $328,799 grant to train 70 students as registered nurses in partnership with Central Texas College.
• Freer ISD: a $237,077 grant to train 175 students as licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in partnership with Del Mar College.
• Garrison ISD: a $342,190 grant to train 64 students as welders in partnership with Panola College.
• Grandview ISD: a $211,323 grant to train 88 students as registered nurses in partnership with Hill College.
• Gunter ISD: a $367,490 grant to train 20 students as welders in partnership with Grayson College.
• Harmony Public Schools Central Texas: a $317,870 grant to train 250 students as electro-mechanical/mechatronics technicians in partnership with Austin Community College.
• Harmony Public Schools North Texas: a $185,297 grant to train 100 students as industrial engineers in partnership with Dallas College.
• Hooks ISD: a $345,548 grant to train 50 students as registered nurses in partnership with Texarkana College.
• Krum ISD: a $92,959 grant to train 147 students as registered nurses in partnership with North Central Texas College.
• La Joya ISD: a $353,686 grant to train 30 students as HVAC mechanics and installers in partnership with South Texas College.
• Lasara ISD: a $321,328 grant to train 80 students as HVAC mechanics and installers in partnership with Texas Southmost College.
• Leggett ISD: a $166,277 grant to train 40 students as food service managers in partnership with Lamar State College Orange.
• Lindale ISD: a $229,240 grant to train 301 students as registered nurses in partnership with Tyler Junior College.
• Livingston ISD: a $255,955 grant to train 120 students as welders in partnership with Lamar Institute of Technology.
• Lubbock-Cooper ISD: a $200,545 grant to train 170 students as HVAC mechanics and installers in partnership with South Plains College.
• Marshall ISD: a $306,403 grant to train 75 students as computer numerically controlled tool programmers in partnership with Texas State Technical College.
• Mercedes ISD: a $272,556 grant to train 14 students as HVAC mechanics and installers in partnership with South Texas College.
• Paducah ISD: a $320,234 grant to train 35 students as first-line supervisors of production and operating workers in partnership with South Plains College.
• Paradise ISD: a $256,675 grant to train 60 students as registered nurses in partnership with Weatherford College.
• Petrolia CISD: a $128,370 grant to train 60 students as welders in partnership with Vernon College.
• Raymondville ISD: a $198,973 grant to train 50 students as registered nurses in partnership with Texas Southmost College.
• Rice ISD: a $67,352 grant to train 105 students as welders in partnership with Navarro College.
• Roby CISD: a $355,583 grant to train 52 students as welders in partnership with Cisco College.
• Rockdale ISD: a $278,064 grant to train 100 students as nursing assistants, including patient care technician and certified nurse aide in partnership with Temple College.
• Rogers ISD: a $163,784 grant to train 26 students as medical assistants in partnership with Temple College.
• Sabinal ISD: a $297,298 grant to train 30 students as registered nurses in partnership with Southwest Texas College.
• San Diego ISD: a $175,275 grant to train 15 students as heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in partnership with Coastal Bend College.
• Santa Gertrudis ISD: a $88,136 grant to train 26 students as medical assistants in partnership with Del Mar College.
• Somerset ISD: a $271,225 grant to train 140 students as welders in partnership with St. Philips College.
• Sulphur Bluff ISD: a $258,613 grant to train 79 students as welders in partnership with Paris Junior College.
• Troup ISD: a $346,280 grant to train 50 students as medical assistants in partnership with Tyler Junior College.
• Tyler ISD: a $186,830 grant to train 50 students as electricians in partnership with Tyler Junior College.
• Waskom ISD: a $81,106 grant to train 66 students as medical assistants in partnership with Panola College.
• Weatherford ISD: a $205,608 grant to train 458 students as health technologists and technicians in partnership with Weatherford College.
• Weimar ISD: a $155,562 grant to train 100 students as welders in partnership with Blinn College.
• West Rusk County CISD: a $193,398 grant to train 16 students as welders in partnership with Kilgore College.
• Windham School District - Plane: a $351,792 grant to train 66 students as industrial machinery mechanics.
• Woodson ISD: a $80,496 grant to train 15 students as software developers in partnership with Cisco College.
• Zapata County ISD: a $348,037 grant to train 50 students as registered nurses in partnership with Laredo College.

Through funding provided by the Texas Legislature, TWC uses JET grants to defray start-up costs to develop career and technical education programs for eligible applicants. Equipment funded through JET grants must be used to train students for jobs in high-demand occupations.

TWC will release the 2027 JET grant Request For Applications (RFA) later this fall. Texas public junior, state, and technical colleges, school districts, open-enrollment charter schools, the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD), and Probation Departments may apply.

Once posted, the complete JET application packet can be downloaded from the TWC Procurement Portal website. To receive notifications about this and other procurement opportunities, interested parties can subscribe through Granicus Communications. Learn more about TWC’s JET grant program.

Texas Historical Records Advisory Board – Governor Abbott appointed Trasa Coburn to the Texas Historical Records Advisory Board for a term set to expire on February 1, 2029. The Board works to improve archival and records storage conditions throughout the state and ensures that permanent records documenting Texas’ history as a colony, province, republic, and state are preserved for future generations.

Texas Juvenile Justice Board – Governor Abbott appointed Bryan Collier to the Texas Juvenile Justice Board for a term set to expire on February 1, 2029. The Board is charged with developing and implementing rules to govern the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, its executive director and staff, and to establish the mission and set goals for the Department that emphasize keeping youth in home communities while balancing rehabilitative needs with public safety.

Upper Colorado River Authority Board Of Directors – Governor Abbott appointed Zane Blackwell to the Upper Colorado River Authority Board of Directors for a term set to expire on February 1, 2029. The Board is tasked with the control, storage and preservation of the waters of the Colorado River and its tributaries within the District's statutory boundaries. 

“Parents are the most important decision-makers in a child’s life,” said Governor Abbott. “In Texas, we will ensure families always have a say in education and uphold the rights that belong to them.”

During his remarks, Governor Abbott emphasized that schools are for education, not indoctrination, and that parents deserve transparency in curriculum. The Governor also celebrated the historic education victories achieved in Texas, including signing the strongest parental right laws in the country, delivering the largest day-one school choice program in America, and signing the largest teacher pay raise in state history and record funding for public schools. He emphasized that school choice is the pathway to make Texas No. 1 in education.

The Governor was introduced by Moms for Liberty co-founder and CEO Tina Descovich.

Additional photos of the event will be provided here when available.

“Texas moves at the speed of business,” said Governor Abbott. “With more than 3.2 million active business entities in our state, Texas Express online makes it fast and efficient for entrepreneurs to make the necessary filings to create jobs and expand opportunity across Texas.

“Texas Express already strengthened the way our office serves businesses that need time-sensitive filings, and putting this service online makes the process even easier,” said Secretary of State Robert Howden. “SOSPortal represents a major step forward in our modernization efforts. Texas businesses should expect their state government to provide reliable, efficient and convenient service, and that is what we are working to deliver.

Texas surpassed 3 million active business entities in 2025, more than double the approximately 1.4 million active entities registered in 2015. The total includes businesses incorporated in Texas as well as out-of-state entities registered to conduct business in the state.

The launch is part of a broader modernization initiative to improve customer service, increase efficiency, and make it easier for Texans to do business with the state. The new system allows customers to file all business documents online, including mergers and conversions, save filings as drafts, check the status of submissions, retrieve completed filings, and select expedited processing during submission.

Click here for more information or to make a filing.

“Next week, a Texas student can apply to any public college or university and pay no application fee,” said Governor Abbott. “I froze undergraduate tuition and fees through the 2026-27 academic year to keep costs down for Texas students. A three-year bachelor’s degree could cut the total bill further and save as much as $35,000. These steps will create a stronger Texas for generations to come.”

Free College Application Week is a key part of Governor Abbott’s college affordability efforts. Since 2023, the Governor has directed all public colleges and universities to freeze undergraduate tuition rates. That freeze remains in place through the 2026-27 academic year for two-year and four-year institutions. In August, Governor Abbott directed the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to develop a statewide framework for three-year bachelor’s degree pathways in high-demand, high-wage fields. A three-year degree could cut the cost of a bachelor’s degree by up to 25 percent and save students $15,000 to $35,000.

“Free College Application Week is another way Texas makes it easier and affordable for students to plan for and advance their education,” said Higher Education Commissioner Wynn Rosser. “All prospective students should take full advantage of this opportunity, which can save them hundreds of dollars as they apply to their chosen public Texas colleges and universities.”

Signed into law by Governor Abbott, Free College Application Week requires every public college and university to waive admission application fees for Texas residents who apply through ApplyTexas to an undergraduate program. Last year, more than 260,000 applications were submitted during Free College Application Week.

Prospective students can utilize My Texas Future and the Direct Admissions program to streamline their college search, evaluate workforce needs, and identify educational programs that fit their career goals. Students can also compare the tuition, location, and value of various credential programs.

Applicants must apply through ApplyTexas to take advantage of Free College Application Week and submit their application no later than 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 18, 2026. For details on residency status, see the Texas Residency Guidelines.

“Texas is the launchpad to a future of possibilities,” said Governor Abbott. “Blue Origin’s sizeable expansion of their investment in Texas in support of their satellite communications network is testament to the state’s leadership in the advanced manufacturing and space industries. Texas offers innovative technology leaders the space, speed, and talent needed to rapidly scale operations.”

“Texas has long understood what it takes to lead in space exploration,” said Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp. “We're proud to grow our footprint here in Texas, tap into the world-class talent this state has to offer, and help ensure America remains the leader in space innovation.”

“Blue Origin’s decision to expand in Hutto is a strong vote of confidence in Williamson County and the pro-business climate that makes Texas a destination for leading companies,” said Senator Charles Schwertner. “This investment will bring high-quality career opportunities while strengthening Central Texas’ role in the aerospace and advanced manufacturing industries.”

“Blue Origin’s decision to invest more than half a billion dollars in Hutto and create more than 2,000 new great-paying jobs is a tremendous win for Williamson County,” said Representative Caroline Harris Davila. “This project will also create new opportunities for Williamson County businesses, contractors, and suppliers. This investment is yet another example of what is possible when we maintain a strong business environment, free from burdensome regulations and high taxes.”

“With this investment by Blue Origin and recent expansions by other industry leaders, Hutto is becoming an anchor point on the Highway 79 tech corridor," said Hutto Mayor Mike Snyder. "Our policies and our approach to business are drawing in the kind of companies that create career opportunities, not just jobs. That's what it takes to build a place where people want to live, work, and play."

“Williamson County is thrilled to welcome Blue Origin to our community. This project will create thousands of high-paying jobs while making a significant investment in our students, schools, and future workforce — strengthening our community for generations to come,” said Williamson County Judge Steve Snell. “We thank Governor Abbott and the State for their efforts to secure this exciting opportunity.”

“Great economic development should strengthen the community alongside the economy,” said City of Hutto Director of Economic Development Cheney Gamboa. “Our residents want us to be thoughtful about how we grow and focus on creating lasting value. Blue Origin aligns with those priorities by bringing quality jobs, diversifying our tax base, and creating an opportunity for sustainable growth that supports the quality of life we want for Hutto today and well into the future.”

View more information about Blue Origin.

TEF is a performance-based grant, administered by the Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office within the Office of the Governor, that may be awarded to a business relocation or expansion project for which one Texas site is in competition with out-of-state locations to create new, good-paying jobs in the community and attract significant new capital investment to the state.

“Ron McMurry devoted his life to making sure that where a Texan lives does not determine the quality of care they receive,” said Governor Abbott. “Today, we are not only dedicating a building. We are honoring his legacy by making a promise that rural Texas will never be left behind.”

The MediPlex is a major investment in rural health care for the region. It includes dermatology, interventional pain management, and pediatric facilities, and an air rescue base for Air Evac Lifeteam, known locally as Air Rescue 3.

During his remarks, Governor Abbott honored Dr. McMurry, an eighth-generation Texan, United States Army combat veteran, and family physician who cared for Jasper for 40 forty years. He noted Dr. McMurry’s service as director of the Jasper-Newton County Public Health District, where he expanded care for low-income Texans and pregnant women, and as president of the Jasper Hospital District.

The dedication builds on steps already taken for rural Texas. In December, Governor Abbott secured more than $1.4 billion in federal Rural Health Transformation Program funds for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, $281 million a year for five years and the largest award of any state. HHSC is allocating those funds to strengthen rural hospitals and clinics and support care close to home.

Additional photos will be provided here when available. 

“Texas is the energy capital of the world because we build the power our economy needs,” said Governor Abbott. “This Texas Energy Fund loan adds more than 450 megawatts of new, reliable natural gas generation in West Texas and fortifies the grid for Texas homes and businesses.”

The project is set to begin generating power for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) power region in 2027.

“This project brings significant investment and more dispatchable power to West Texas, while benefitting all Texans by strengthening grid reliability,” said PUCT Chairman Thomas Gleeson. “With quick start capabilities to meet fluctuating demand and a design suited for West Texas winters, this facility will add a dependable source of power for Texas families and businesses.”

The loan agreement between the PUCT and Pecos Power Plant LLC, with co-sponsors Mercuria and Continental Resources, is the ninth finalized under the TxEF’s In-ERCOT Generation Loan Program, which provides low-interest loans for projects that add new, reliable power to the ERCOT region.

The eight projects already approved through the TxEF In-ERCOT Generation Loan Program represent 4,994 MW of new, reliable power for the grid.

Additional information about the TxEF and the In-ERCOT Generation Loan Program is available on the PUCT website.

Zane Blackwell of Eden is a retired utility lineman. He is a former member of the Eden Chamber of Commerce Board, Eden Economic Development, and the City of Eden Water Task Force. Additionally, he previously served as president of the Eden Consolidated Independent School District Board.