Dallas College will receive over $3.8 million in state workforce training grants, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Monday.
The funding will train workers for jobs in construction, manufacturing, and aerospace engineering.
The grants arrive as Texas employers struggle to fill skilled positions in high-demand industries. The state’s Skills Development Fund aims to close that gap by partnering community colleges with local businesses.
“Investing in our workforce ensures that Texas employers have the talent they need to compete in the global arena,” Abbott said in a news release. “The more than $3.8 million in grant funding will help train over 1,900 workers in the Dallas area for good-paying careers in high-demand industries.”
The Texas Workforce Commission approved three separate awards. The largest grant, $2,834,720, will train 1,452 workers across plumbing, HVAC, and electrical companies.
A second grant of $542,524 targets 312 workers across a consortium of manufacturing companies. The third award, valued at $459,920, will prepare 230 Lockheed Martin employees for roles in aerospace and electrical engineering.
“Skills Development Fund grants equip hardworking Texans with the necessary training for high-demand jobs,” said TWC Chairman Bryan Daniel. “These grants will help Dallas College and its partners support local employers by training workers for occupations in fields like plumbing, manufacturing, and electrical engineering.”
TWC Commissioner Alberto Treviño III presented the awards last Thursday at Dallas College’s Coppell Center. Representatives from the college and partnering businesses attended the ceremony.
Since 1996, the Skills Development Fund has partnered with more than 4,900 employers statewide. The program has supported training for more than 435,000 jobs across Texas.
The grants enable businesses to tailor training programs through partnerships with community colleges and workforce development boards. Companies of all sizes can access the funding to upgrade their employees’ skills or train new hires.