BROWNSVILLE, Texas - More than 2,000 students from the Rio Grande Valley are expected to reap the benefits from five workforce grants.
A state program run by the Texas Workforce Commission allocated more than $1.1 million to a handful of educational centers to upgrade the infrastructure to keep training and educate students from Brownsville all the way to Roma in Starr County.
Albert Treviño, III, a TWC commissioner representing labor, was at Texas Southmost College on Wednesday, Aug. 20, to present replicas of the checks to representatives from various educational institutions.
Treviño presented five JET grants, totaling $1,174,514.00 to five grant recipients, including Edinburg CISD (in partnership with Texas Southmost College), Roma ISD (in partnership with South Texas College), South Texas ISD (in partnership with Texas State Technical College-Harlingen), Texas Southmost College, and Weslaco ISD (in partnership with South Texas College).
In the first year of the grants, the funding will help train 2,140 students in high demand occupations in Healthcare and Welding, he explained.
“This is very important, especially for this area,” Treviño said. “This is going to benefit 2,140 students.”
Treviño said the education centers will use the funds to buy new equipment, to upgrade and to train students in the two areas which are in big demand today: healthcare and welding.
The program, called Jobs for Education for Texans, or JET, provides grants for the development of careers and technical education courses.
Jesus Rodriguez, the TSC president, said the funds will greatly impact the region in several ways
“These grants will impact our growth and our future workers,” he said. “This will bring our institutions and our communities together.”
Adela Garza, president of the TSC board of trustees, said she was extremely glad for what is happening.
“Imagine what this is going to do,” she said, “and how many students will be affected.”
David Plummer, vice president of student’s development at TSC, said the centers of education will utilize the funds to upgrade their infrastructure to train students to prepare them to join the workforce making good wages.
The check presentations took place at the TSC Performing Arts Center. The event was attended by more than two dozen school and business officials.
