U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $12.1 Million to Create Multi-Sector Workforce Training Program in Rural Central Texas Through American Rescue Plan Good Jobs Challenge

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $12.1 million American Rescue Plan Good Jobs Challenge grant to Workforce Solutions Rural Capital, Cedar Park, Texas, to create Rural Employers Infuse Vital Economic Success in Texas (REINVEST), an information technology, healthcare, and building and construction workforce training program.

This program will prioritize training programs and apprenticeships in skilled trades, information technology, and healthcare for historically underserved populations including immigrants, women, and low-income individuals in rural, central Texas. By partnering with local employers and workforce development programs, REINVEST will assist workers in overcoming significant barriers to obtaining quality jobs through training and support.

“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to creating a strong workforce to boost American industries,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “This program will provide skills and training to support workers in building and construction, information technology, and healthcare industries.”

“The Good Jobs Challenge is bringing together local partners in rural central Texas to build equitable workforce training programs,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “Led by Workforce Solutions Rural Capital, this program will prioritize training programs and apprenticeships in key local industries to provide support and skills to previously underserved populations.”

“As Texas continues to support and invest in our skilled, growing and diverse workforce, the Economic Development Administration’s award will help us continue providing the best opportunities for Texans to grow and thrive in our state,” said Governor Greg Abbott. “This grant will bolster training for Texans in leading industries, including healthcare, construction, and information technology, boosting our highly-skilled workforce and expanding the might of the Texas economy.”

This grant is funded through the American Rescue Plan Good Jobs Challenge. The program awarded grants to 32 worker-centered, industry-led workforce training partnerships across the country. The $500 million program is expanding opportunities for more Americans to access and secure good-paying jobs by investing in innovative approaches to advance worker-centered, industry-led workforce training partnerships.

The 32 awardee projects were selected from a competitive pool of 509 applicants. By partnering with stakeholders such as labor unions, community colleges and industry, these projects will solve for local talent needs, increase the supply of trained workers and help workers secure jobs in 15 key industries that are essential to U.S. supply chains, global competitiveness, and regional development. Through a holistic, integrated partnership approach, these projects will provide tangible opportunities and security for American workers, focusing on serving and supporting a broad range of underserved communities and connecting workers with the training, skills, and support services needed to successfully secure a good job. For more information on the grantees, please visit our fact sheet. (PDF)

The Good Jobs Challenge is part of a suite of American Rescue Plan programs developed by EDA to equitably distribute its $3 billion allocation to assist communities nationwide in their efforts to build a better America by accelerating economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and building local economies that will be more resilient to future economic shocks.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.