AUSTIN — Governor Greg Abbott announced Tuesday that more than $7 million in Texas Talent Connection grants have been awarded to workforce training and job placement programs across Texas, including two projects that will serve residents in Wharton County.
The grants, administered through the Texas Workforce Investment Council, support education, job training, apprenticeships, certifications, and employment programs designed to help Texans enter high-demand careers and improve long-term job opportunities.
Wharton County is among the areas included in two Gulf Coast region workforce initiatives receiving a combined $600,000 in funding.
SER-Jobs for Progress of the Texas Gulf Coast received a $350,000 grant for its Foundation for the Future: Texas Skilled Trades Initiative. The program will provide training and job placement opportunities for low-income and underemployed individuals interested in construction and skilled trades careers.
The program serves residents in Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Walker, Waller, and Wharton counties.
United College and Career Success was awarded $250,000 for its Leap Forward Workforce Innovation Program. The initiative targets opportunity youth and young adults ages 16 to 24, providing training to become phlebotomists, medical assistants, and nursing assistants. The program also uses predictive methods to identify participants at risk of disengaging and offers support to help them complete certifications and enter the workforce.
The program serves residents in Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Walker, Waller, and Wharton counties.
Governor Abbott said the grants will help Texans gain skills needed for high-demand careers while supporting the state’s growing economy.
“The Texas economy soars to new heights because of the hard work and dedication of our young and skilled workforce,” Abbott said in a statement. “These grants will allow more Texans to acquire the skills they need to succeed in high-demand careers.”
The Texas Talent Connection program awarded more than $7 million to 27 workforce development projects statewide this year.