McALLEN - Today, Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa attended the Texas Workforce Commission Grant Award Ceremony where Commissioner Julian Alvarez presented a check for a Skills Development Fund Grant of $221,729 to South Texas College in partnership with a consortium of manufacturers to provide manufacturing job training for students in our region. Commissioner Alvarez also presented a check for a Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) Fund Grant of $342,740 to Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District to train high school students to learn manufacturing technology skills.

Senator Hinojosa issued the following statement:

"We in the Texas Legislature have been proactive in appropriating funding and making the necessary legislative changes to partner with our educational systems and the private sector, so we can adjust our education and training to develop the skilled labor force needed to sustain our changing economy. In working with the TWC and through Commissioner Julian Alvarez's leadership and continued support of the Rio Grande Valley, these grants will do just that.

One of my priorities has always been to invest in our youth and workforce through education and skills training, and to create more jobs. These funds provide an excellent opportunity to expand career and technology courses, to give our students the skills they need to transition to a job in the manufacturing industry right out of high school, and to offer customized training opportunities for businesses and workers to increase skill levels and wages which will ultimately benefit all of our communities."

In 2015, Senator Hinojosa authored and passed SB 1351 to transfer the JET grant program from the Comptroller's Office to the Texas Workforce Commission and to allow grants to be awarded to high schools and not just community colleges. PSJA is the only school district in the entire state that has received a back to back JET grant since SB 1351 took effect.

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