The Laredo Independent School District was named a recipient of the Texas Workforce Solutions Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) Grant during the Texas Workforce Commission Grant Presentation Ceremony today at Laredo College.
The $1.5 million grant was awarded to Cigarroa High School and the Dr. Dennis D. Cantu Health Science Early College High School at Martin High School. The three programs getting the funding are the Dental Assistant at Dr. Dennis D. Cantu Early College, Diesel Technology, and Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) at Cigarroa High School.
The JET grant provides funding for equipment to eligible educational institutions for the purpose of developing career and technical educational courses and may include courses offering dual-credit and technical educational programs. The equipment must be used to train students offering dual credit career and technical educational opportunities.
“The partnership between LISD and TWC has been crucial towards creating a strong career-ready workforce that ensures the success of our community,” said Roger Garcia LISD Executive Director of College, Career and Military Readiness. “Thanks to TWC we have been able to create valuable career-ready opportunities for our students.”
According to Garcia, the grant is unique in that it is only for equipment. It must be equipment that is going to prepare the students to become certified in the areas that they're specializing in such as diesel, Health Science occupations, and HVAC equipment. You name it. Anything that's equipment that's needed for these industries it is covered through the grant.
The funds will be used to purchase equipment for instruction and preparation for students who are training for careers in the dental, diesel technology, and HVAC profession. Through a partnership with Laredo College, students will earn certifications in their respective field.
“LISD appreciates our partnership with TWC. This is what we need. Our business partnerships are key and crucial to us being able to provide these students with the education the background and sometimes the workplace learning opportunities, the practicums, and the internships,” said Garcia “TWC has always been crucial to us because they're the ones who tell us what employment opportunities exist in this region. Without their support we really can't do anything. This grant is crucial, and we've received it four years in a row. But this year, it was unique in that they allowed multiple programs to be part of it. So, we were lucky and fortunate enough to get $1.5 million.”
The grant monies will be spent on purchasing equipment such as a mini-split simulators, commercial unit simulators, dental chairs, dental instruments, engines, air brake systems and a variety of tools.