The Texas Workforce Commission, in partnership with Odessa College, will host a presentation of six Jobs and Education for Texans Grants to four recipients at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday at the Odessa College Welding Lab, located in Sedate Hall Room 145 on the OC main campus.
Texas Workforce Commissioner Alberto Treviño III will present the checks, totaling $2,566,283, to the recipients including Odessa College, Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD, Grandfalls-Royalty ISD, and Monahans-Wickett-Pyote ISD. Odessa College will receive two JET Grants, totaling over $223,000 to fund the welding program equipment with Crane ISD and the automation equipment at the OC Pecos Campus. Speakers at the presentation will include Superintendent Bryan Hernandez of Grandfalls-Royalty ISD, CTE Director Scott Burkett of Monahans-Wickett- Pyote ISD, OC Dean of the School of Business and Industry Gene White, Chief Academic Officer Dr. Karen Matt of Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD, and Commissioner Treviño.
“Odessa College is excited for the opportunity to serve others through the Regional Jet Grant while partnering with Crane ISD and Pecos ISD,” OC Executive Assistant to the President Lindsey Bryant said in a news release. “The new equipment will allow us to expand capacity and train approximately 90 dual credit automation students and approximately 90 dual credit welding students by offering training and industry certificates that can lead to associate and bachelor’s degrees in both programs. This also allows us to supply high-skilled workers to fill the in-demand oil and gas industry positions in the Reeves County and the surrounding areas and to fill the in-demand welding positions in the Permian Basin.”
The JET Grant program defrays start-up costs associate with the development of career and technical education programs to public community and technical colleges, and independent school districts. The program provides grants to eligible entities to purchase and install equipment that is necessary for the development of career and technical education courses that lead to a license, certificate, and post-secondary degree in a high-demand occupation, the release said.
