The Texas Workforce Commission has awarded a $150,000 Texas Industry Partnership grant to Workforce Solutions Lower Rio Grande Valley and The PossAble Dream Foundation to expand job training for adult learners in South Texas, the agency announced in a July 23 news release.
The grant will fund training equipment for The PossAble Dream Adult High School, a tuition-free school in Pharr designed for non-traditional learners between the ages of 18 and 50, according to the release. The new equipment will help train 22 students for high-demand careers as HVAC technicians and medical assistants.
“Every Texan deserves a clear path to a successful career, and this Texas Industry Partnership grant helps make that a reality for adult learners in the Rio Grande Valley,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Alberto Treviño III. “The PossAble Dream Adult High School will empower workers to overcome barriers, earn their diplomas, and contribute to the continued economic strength of our state’s target industries.”
Treviño presented the award at a ceremony in Pharr attended by state and local officials and school staff, the commission said. The Texas Industry Partnership program is funded through federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act dollars and allows local workforce development boards to apply for funds, leveraged by local industry partners, on behalf of workforce-related projects. Funding supports occupational training in high-demand occupations and can cover curriculum, equipment, instructors and small building improvements.
The commission encouraged businesses interested in the program to contact their local Workforce Solutions office or visit the Texas Industry Partnership Program webpage. TWC described itself as a state agency dedicated to helping Texas employers, workers and communities prosper economically, working in coordination with a network of local workforce development boards.