U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $8.8 Million to Grow Biotechnology Workforce in North 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 an $8.8 million American Rescue Plan Good Jobs Challenge grant to Dallas College, Dallas, Texas, to create the Grow the Biotech Workforce in North Texas to Meet Emerging Skill Needs via a Collaborative Partnership program.

This program will expand the number of skilled workers in clinical labs, bioinformatics, and biomanufacturing through partnerships with rural community colleges and several leading employers. Workers will receive tailored supports to complete training programs to obtain a quality job in the local biotechnology sector.

“President Biden is committed to supporting workforce development within the biotechnology sector,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “This EDA investment will support growth in a high-demand industry, expanding the number of skilled workers in clinical labs, bioinformatics, and biomanufacturing.”

“The Good Jobs Challenge is creating pathways to new job and career opportunities across the country,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “Through partnerships with rural community colleges and leading employers, this program will help North Texas workers to obtain the skills they need to secure a good job.”

“I want to thank the Economic Development Administration for their investment in Dallas College and the entire Dallas-Fort Worth region to expand the educational and career development opportunities for Texans in the biotechnology industry,” said Governor Greg Abbott. “As a leading state for biotech doctorates, we will continue equipping Texans with the skills and experience necessary to earn and excel in high-demand biotech jobs.”

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.