Greg Abbott Announces $1.8 Million in JET Grants for Coastal Bend Schools

greg abbott

Governor Greg Abbott (R) has announced that six schools in the Texas Coastal Bend region will receive more than $1.8 million in Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) grants through the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) to support career and technical education training programs.

The six grants, totaling over $1.8 million, will help schools purchase and install industry-standard equipment used to train students for high-demand careers, including nursing, dental hygiene, and electrical engineering technology.

"Our most valuable investment is the opportunities we give to our young workforce," said Abbott. "This $1.8 million in grant funding to schools throughout the Texas Coastal Bend will provide students with the career and technical training they need to build a solid foundation for their future careers."

According to state officials, the funding is expected to initially train 585 students across the region.

TWC Chairman Joe Esparza said the grants will allow students to gain hands-on experience using equipment that reflects real-world workplace environments.

"By investing in industry-standard equipment through the JET program, six schools in the Coastal Bend area will provide hands-on training that mirrors the modern workplace," said Esparza. "These grants ensure that more than 58 students will have the technical skills necessary to excel in high-demand fields like nursing and electrical engineering."

The JET program is funded by the Texas Legislature and helps schools develop or expand career and technical education programs aimed at preparing students for high-demand occupations across Texas.

The awards were presented during a ceremony at Del Mar College's Oso Creek campus in Corpus Christi.

The grants awarded included:

Del Mar College: $306,834
Freer Independent School District: $226,518
Pettus Independent School District: $331.792
Skidmore-Tynan Independent School District: $345,268
Sinton Independent School District: $328,296
Victoria College: $280,345

Raeylee Barefield

Raeylee Barefield is a Legislative Correspondent based in Austin, Texas, specializing in state government and public policy. With one year of reporting under her belt, she covers legislative developments, committee hearings, and policy debates. She has been cited by Texas Politics and Big Energy for her coverage and analysis of legislative and regulatory issues. Her reporting typically focuses on Public policy, Stare government, environmental policy, and energy regulation. To contact her, please reach out at Raeylee@dnm.news