Navarro College, TSTC receive workforce development grants
AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott recently announced 15 grants totaling more than $4.7 million to Texas public community colleges and technical schools. The grants, administered by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, support educational programs that lead to in-demand, high-earning occupations.
Locally, TIME grants were announced for Navarro College ( $429,800) and Texas State Technical College ($179,900). TSTC also received a $186,000 TRUE Pathways grant.
“Texas students deserve clear pathways to high-paying careers,” Abbott said in a statement. “These grants give community colleges and technical schools the resources they need to prepare students for in-demand jobs in healthcare, technology, and construction. These programs deliver the skills that help Texans succeed and keep our economy the strongest in America.”
The grants, provided through the Texas Invests in Meaningful Employment (TIME) and Texas Reskilling and Upskilling through Education (TRUE) Pathways Design & Planning competitions, fund career and technical education programs and the development of innovative new courses of study that track closely to workforce needs. The grants assist students to quickly upskill or reskill for jobs that offer a strong career pathway and return on investment.
By aligning educational credentials with in-demand occupations, Texas is strategically strengthening its economy and building a strong talent pool to fill highly skilled, financially rewarding jobs in sectors such as healthcare, technology, and construction, according to a governor’s office media release.
“Thanks to robust funding for workforce initiatives, these grants administered by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board support students into viable pathways toward rewarding careers,” said Higher Education Commissioner Wynn Rosser. “Not only do they make a difference to students, but they keep college programs vibrant and relevant while fortifying the economies of urban and rural communities across Texas.”
In 2025, Abbott signed Senate Bill 1786 into law, directing the THECB, Texas Education Agency, and Texas Workforce Commission to work alongside industry and public two-year colleges to develop, fund, and expand secondary and postsecondary career and technical education programs, including dual-credit programs, to align with job demand.
Additional TIME award grant recipients were:
• Alamo Community College District: $500,000
• Amarillo College: $500,000
• Cisco College: $497,800
• Hill College: $500,000
• Northeast Texas Community College: $500,000
• San Jacinto Community College: $392,500
TRUE Pathways grant recipients were:
• Texas State Tech Lamar State College-Port Arthur: $153,000
• McLennan Community College: $188,900
• North Central Texas College: $167,740
• Panola College: $196,000
• South Texas College: $152,640
• Tarrant County College District: $200,000
