OUR SITES
The JET program provides grants to buy and install equipment for career and technical education (CTE) courses. These courses must lead to a license, certificate or post-secondary degree in a high-demand occupation.
State Department
Texas Workforce Commission
Funding
For the FY 26–27 JET grant RFA cycle, approximately $30 million of general revenue will be available for applications from all eligible institutions.
Deadlines
Applications due January 13, 2026.
Other Information
N/A
The Skills Development Fund is Texas’ premier job-training program providing local customized training opportunities for Texas businesses and workers to increase skill levels and wages of the Texas workforce. The Texas Workforce Commission administers funding for the program. Success is achieved through collaboration among businesses, public community and technical colleges, Workforce Development Boards and economic development partners. The Skills Development Fund program assists businesses and trade unions by financing the design and implementation of customized job-training projects. A business, consortium of businesses, or trade union identifies a training need, and then partners with a public community or technical college to fill its specific needs. Businesses work with college partners to submit proposals, develop curricula and conduct training. The Skills Development Fund pays for the training, the college administers the grant, and businesses create new jobs and improve the skills of their current workers. Grants for a single business may be limited to $500,000, and can be applied toward tuition, curriculum development, instructor fees and training materials. Grant funds may not be used to pay for trainee wages, drug testing, travel costs and certain equipment purchases.
State Department
Texas Workforce Commission
Funding
Total funding of up to $45 million in training dollars to support high-quality customized training projects statewide.
Deadlines
TWC accepts project proposal submissions throughout the year with each grant typically lasting 12 months.
Other Information
N/A
Through the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Skills for Small Business program, up to $2 million from the Skills Development Fund is dedicated to the backbone of Texas’ business community—our small employers. Small businesses can apply to TWC for training offered by their local community or technical college, or the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX). TWC processes the applications and works with the college to fund the specific courses selected by businesses for their employees. This exceptional opportunity supports businesses with fewer than 100 employees, and emphasizes training for new workers though it also may help upgrade the skills of incumbent workers. The program pays up to $1,800 for each new employee being trained and $900 for existing employees per 12-month period. Funding for training is for full-time employees. Training is not based on a fiscal year, but rather on a 12-month period.
State Department
Texas Workforce Commission
Funding
Up to $2 million
Deadlines
TWC accepts project proposal submissions throughout the year with each grant typically lasting 12 months.
Other Information
N/A
Apprenticeship is a combination of on-the-job training and related classroom instruction in which workers learn the practical and theoretical aspects of a highly skilled occupation. Apprenticeship programs are sponsored by joint employer and labor groups, individual employers, or employer associations. To qualify for funds, apprenticeship training programs and apprentices must be registered with the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship. If you are an employer and would like information regarding funding for related classroom instruction for adults in registered apprenticeship training programs, contact the Texas Workforce Commission at [email protected].
State Department
Texas Workforce Commission
Funding
N/A
Deadlines
Rolling
Other Information
N/A
$1 million to address unique challenges and training needs of Texas veterans returning home and entering the workforce. Emphasizes training newly hired veterans – those who have been hired by the business up 1 year prior to the date that TWC receives an application. Trainees must be full-time employees and earning a prevailing wage. Businesses of any size may apply directly to TWC at any time. Funds tuition and fees up to $1,450. Select courses from catalogs for public community or technical colleges, or TEEX.
State Department
Texas Workforce Commission
Funding
$1 million
Deadlines
Must apply within 1 year of hiring
Other Information
N/A
The Self Sufficiency Fund provides training grants to community and technical colleges and community-based organizations 501(c )(3) who delivers occupational training that must lead to an acceptable industry recognized certification for adult recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or individuals who are At-Risk of becoming dependent on public assistance, who are: Individuals who are a members of a SNAP household with dependent children; TANF applicants referred to a Workforce Board contractor by the Department of Human Services, or are parents including a non-custodial parent, who make less than $37,000 annually. Eligible training providers applying for a grant may include nonprofit 501(c)(3) community-based organizations, Texas public community or technical colleges, or the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX). The Self-Sufficiency Fund pays for curriculum development, instructor fees and certifications, training materials, certain work-related expenses for trainees and some training equipment. Applicants may receive up to $500,000 per proposal. Training can be delivered through a variety of methods including classroom, simulations, online instruction, and on-the-job instruction. Collaboration between training providers, businesses, and Workforce Development Boards is required.
State Department
Texas Workforce Commission
Funding
N/A
Deadlines
TWC accepts project proposal submissions throughout the year with each grant typically lasting 12 months.
Other Information
N/A
The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a Federal tax credit available to employers for hiring individuals from certain targeted groups who have consistently faced significant barriers to employment.
State Department
Texas Workforce Commission
Funding
N/A
Deadlines
N/A
Other Information
N/A
The information on this page was put together by PMA’s workforce development team and PMA’s lobbying team in Washington, D.C.
If you have any questions about funds for training, contact PMA’s workforce development team at [email protected].
If you don’t see your question listed, feel free to reach out—we’re happy to help!
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