On Wednesday, September 27, Pauline Knight Perkins Auditorium on the Trinity Valley Community College - Athens Campus was filled with excited attendees for the Regional Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) Grant Presentation.

JET provides grants to eligible entities to purchase and install equipment necessary for the development of career and technical education (CTE) courses or programs that lead to a license, certificate, or post-secondary degree in a high-demand occupation, according to twc.texas.gov. Five grant recipients including Kaufman Independent School District, Cayuga Independent School District, Rains Independent School District, Kemp Independent School District – all in partnership with TVCC and Forney Independent School District – in partnership with Dallas College – El Centro Campus received grants totaling $1,378,256. In the first year of the grants, the funding will help train 648 students in high-demand occupations in Mechanical Engineers, Healthcare and Welding, according to Communication Assistant Kelly Langley for Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Outreach and Employer Initiatives.

“These grants will help create a pathway for students to learn a trade for future career,” TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Alberto Treviño lll informed the audience. “ The equipment purchase with these grants will prepare students for employable skills, the technical knowledge and trainingthey need to thrive for the labor force.”

In the past year, TWC has awarded 152 JET grants. The grant program began in 2016 and awarded over $14,000,000 between 2016 through 2022 to support CTE programs across the State of Texas, according to Treviño lll.

“More importantly we are preparing our future workforce with the skills needed to excel in technical careers,” Treviño lll. “Your [grant recipients] attendance today demonstrates your leadership that keeps the Texas employment and economy stronger than other state.”

TVCC President Jason Morrison discussed the importance of the for the local high schools that partnered with the community college.

“Today is about partnerships,” Morrison exclaimed. “Partnerships at all levels from the State of Texas commitment to advancing the workforce in our community and helping us grow economically to our partnerships with our ISDs and seeing the importance of advance education, training and our students needs to meet the demands of the future workforce.”

Kaufman ISD Superintendent Dr. Joshua Garcia was excited to receive the grant and hopes to utilize this grant to invest in the school.

“The word that comes to my mind is investment,” Garcia said. ”Thank you for the investment Trinity Valley and Workforce Commission. You are making an investment in the lives of our students. These are the opportunities to help us [public schools] shine and show the world the power of public education and what it can do for our students.”

Kemp ISD Superintendent Dr. James Young focused on the impact the grant will help students that come from low-income households and may not have resources for higher education opportunities.

“The word that comes to my mind is hope,” Young said. “Theres a lot of students in our district who don’t really have the resources In their families that can receive the type of training we are able to provide because of these grants this impacts the students, families and our community. I believe these are the things that would change the future of every child.”

Governor Greg Abbott announced his excitement in a press release on Wednesday, Sept. 27 for the schools being awarded this investment and the impact it will have on the Texas economy.

“Texas continues to invest in our growing and diverse workforce to ensure our great state remains the economic juggernaut of America,” Governor Abbott informed. “With these grants, Texas students will have the training they need to succeed in critical, high-demand careers and allow businesses to thrive in our booming economy.”

These grants will offer students stimulated labs at high schools for a great learning environment, Treviño lll shared. These industry-based equipment classrooms help to provide regionally recognized credentials to jump start their education and careers.