July 1, 2025 | Austin, Texas | Press Release

Governor Greg Abbott today announced over $7.3 million in Texas Talent Connection grants awarded to 22 innovative workforce skills training and job placement programs in communities across the state. Since 2015, Governor Abbott has awarded over $57 million in Texas Talent Connection grants.

“Texas leads the nation in job creation thanks to the Best Business Climate in America and our skilled, growing workforce,” said Governor Abbott. “To continue to meet workforce demands in an expanding economy, Texas is connecting more Texans to the skills training needed for the better job and bigger paycheck opportunities we provide. Together with our community partners and entrepreneurs, we will build an even stronger Texas workforce of tomorrow.” 

The competitive grants support innovative education and workforce skills training programs that lead to successful job placements, increased wages, and improved job retention, as well as serve workforce populations with special needs, such as opportunity youth between the ages of 16 and 24 who are not engaged in education or employment.

The over $7.3 million in Texas Talent Connection grant awards announced today include:

The Texas Workforce Investment Council assists the Governor and the Texas Legislature with strategic planning for and evaluation of the Texas workforce system to promote the development of a well-educated, highly skilled workforce for Texas. The Council’s appointed members represent business and industry, organized labor, education, and community-based organizations. Ex officio members include the Texas Workforce Commission, Texas Education Agency, Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and the Governor’s Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office. The more than $7.3 million in Texas Talent Connection grants awarded this year by Governor Abbott are Wagner-Peyser 7(b) grant funds allocated to the Office of the Governor by the U.S. Department of Labor to encourage innovation in workforce training and job placement services.

Read more about the Texas Talent Connection grant program at: https://gov.texas.gov/organization/twic/wagner_peyser_7b_program