TEXAS, USA — The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) has awarded a Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) grant in Erath County to support career training at Ranger College. The grant for $324,658 is to help the school buy and install automotive technology equipment to initially train 126 students for careers in the automotive industry.
According to a TWC press release, Ranger College will prepare students for the Automotive Service Excellence certification with the mobile automotive technology program and high-tech mobile equipment. The school will use the equipment purchased through this grant to train more students in the future.
Through funding provided by the Legislature each biennium, TWC uses JET grants to defray start-up costs of developing career and technical education programs for the public community, state and technical colleges and school districts. The 87th Texas Legislature added open-enrollment charter schools and the Windham School District as eligible applicants. Equipment funded through JET grants must be used to train students for jobs in high-demand occupations.
"The collaboration between Ranger College and their partners on the JET and Skills Development Fund grant will benefit the local community and its workforce," TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Julian Alvarez said in the release. "Joint efforts like this improve Texas workers' skills and ensure our labor force remains among the most talented in the world."
The TWC also awarded Ranger College and its partnership with TechnipFMC and Saint-Gobain Abrasives, Inc., a $1,201,487 Skills Development Fund grant. The grant will benefit workers in the Workforce Solutions North Central Texas area. The school will use the funding to provide customized training to 604 new and incumbent workers in manufacturing industry-related topics with a focus on machinery, engine assembly, production line, and machine shop basics.
The Skills Development Fund grant program has provided training opportunities in partnership with at least 4,572 employers to upgrade or support the creation of more than 398,125 jobs throughout Texas since the program's inception in 1996.
Employers seeking more information about the Skills Development Fund may visit the TWC website at texasworkforce.org/skills.
