In rural central texas, residents face significant barriers to obtaining quality jobs, including gaps in educational attainment, lack of access to broadband, and disruption in local economies…

The Rural Capital Area Workforce Development Board, Inc. was awarded a $24,174,746 Project Grant from the Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration's (EDA) Economic Adjustment Assistance (CFDA 11.307) program. The grant will establish and fund two sector partnerships focused on workforce training programs and apprenticeships in skilled trades, IT/financial services, and healthcare for underserved populations in rural Central Texas. The partnerships, led by Workforce Network, Inc. and Smithville Workforce Training Center, will prioritize training and apprenticeships with employer partners including Hill Country Builders Association, Quick Connect Electrical, Ascension Seton, Imagine Solutions, and CMIT Solutions. The grant period is from September 1, 2022 to September 1, 2026.

In rural central texas, residents face significant barriers to obtaining quality jobs, including gaps in educational attainment, lack of access to broadband, and disruption in local economies spurred by the recent closure of a coal mine. This project will establish and fund two sectoral partnerships with backbone organization workforce network, INC. Focusing on the western area of the region and smithville workforce training center focusing on the eastern area of the region. Both sector partnerships will prioritize training programs and apprenticeships in skilled trades, IT/financial services, and healthcare for historically underserved populations including immigrants, women, and low-income individuals. Employer partners include hill country builders association, quick connect electrical, ascension seton, imagine solutions, and cmit solutions.