A local college will soon see a substantial endowment aimed at growing students’ job skills in an array of fields.
Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Thursday that Dallas College has been slated to receive over $1 million in a new Skills Development Fund (SDF) grant award. This grant, which typically runs for a year, will be used to provide students with specialized training for high-demand careers ranging from dental hygiene to roofing.
It is the second SDF grant award received by Dallas College this year, with another amounting to $468,309 in partnership with Gainwell Technologies announced this summer, as covered by The Dallas Express.
Created in 1996 by the Texas Workforce Commission, the SDF is dedicated to financially supporting businesses and colleges that wish to upgrade the skills of existing and new workers.
Since this fund’s creation, SDF grants have helped establish or uplevel more than 420,000 jobs while collaborating with approximately 4,800 employers across the state.
The grant awarded to Dallas College — amounting to a total of $1,009,383 — involves several industry partners, including Mint Dentistry, On-Target Supplies and Logistics, The Richards Group, Kpost Roofing, and Kpost Company.
Bryan Daniel, chairman of the TWC, presented this award to representatives of the college during a ceremony at the Dallas College Garland Center on Thursday.
“The Skills Development Fund connects colleges and employers to build a highly trained workforce by providing resources directly where they’re needed,” said Daniel, according to the governor’s news release. “Today’s award is another great example of employers who are committed to upskilling their workers to prepare for the growing Texas economy.”
Abbott also highlighted the importance of growing a highly-skilled, diverse workforce in Texas.
“This job training grant will help equip North Texans with the skills they need to excel in high-demand careers and ensure our vital industries have the support they need to succeed,” Abbott said in the release. “I thank the Texas Workforce Commission for partnering with Dallas College and other local businesses to bring this invaluable training to hardworking Texans.”
This taxpayer-funded education-to-workforce endowment comes just as new individual grants and student financial aid options become available for new college students across the nation.
The United States Department of Education will launch its new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form by the end of this year, as previously reported by The Dallas Express. As many as 51,296 students are expected to be newly eligible for Pell Grants through this redesign, while 132,667 more will likely be eligible to receive the maximum Pell Grant amount, which was $7,395 for the 2023-2034 year.