Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s office announced Sept. 18 that a $344,000 Jobs and Education for Texans grant was awarded to Fabens Independent School District with the purpose of supporting career and technical education (CTE) training programs.

Awarded by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), the grant is going toward the purchase and installation of medical equipment to train 126 students as registered nurses in partnership with El Paso Community College.

These grants, funded by the Texas Legislature, reduce start-up costs for developing CTE programs across various educational institutions.

“Today’s JET grant will help Fabens ISD provide for instruction for hundreds of students training to fill high-demand occupations,” said TWC Chairman Bryan Daniel.

This initiative, while aimed at high schools, represents a crucial advancement not only for the students directly involved in the training programs, but also for the greater region of El Paso.

It is estimated that introducing these programs will equip students with necessary skills and create more job opportunities for healthcare workers in the region.

 This initiative will benefit many graduates from the technical and healthcare programs at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), setting them for successful careers.

“Investing in our future workforce is crucial for Texas to remain the best state for business, the best state for jobs, and the best state for opportunity,” said Governor Abbott. “Through the Texas Workforce Commission working with our educational partners, we will continue to train the workforce of tomorrow and create more economic opportunities for the next generation.”

As healthcare facilities in the region expand to accommodate the growing number of qualified professionals, El Paso will continue to navigate a rapidly evolving job market, driven by the increased demand for services that support healthcare infrastructure.

Rumi Sevilla is a staff reporter for The Prospector and may be reached at [email protected]