32026-00030 Career Exploration Internship Initiative

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is seeking applications for the Career Exploration Internship Initiative, a competitive grant program utilizing $750,000 in Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds to support internship opportunities across diverse industries. The program aims to provide career exploration experiences for students through comprehensive internship programs that include rotational internships, industry visits, career fairs, and soft skills training. Eligible applicants must develop detailed program plans demonstrating strategies for intern recruitment, industry partnerships, and implementation of career exploration activities. The evaluation rubric will assess proposals across six key categories: Program Description, Program Plan, Intern Recruitment and Selection Process, Implementation Plan, Partnerships, Benchmarks, and Budget Workbook. Each category will be scored using a point-based system that evaluates the comprehensiveness and quality of the proposed internship program. Interested parties must submit questions through the Procurement Portal, with submissions accepted until all funds are awarded. The grant period will last fifteen months, with grants ranging from $50,000 to $150,000 available to successful applicants.

The procurement is specifically limited to public educational institutions in Texas, including public junior colleges, public technical institutes, public state colleges, general academic teaching institutions, and Texas Independent School Districts (ISDs) or Charter Schools. Texas ISDs and Charter Schools must partner with a local workforce development board to be eligible for funding. The program has specific restrictions on administrative costs, which cannot exceed 10% of total funds expended, and prohibits certain expenditures such as alcoholic beverages, entertainment, out-of-state travel, and equipment purchases. Applicants must comply with extensive federal and state regulations, including non-discrimination provisions, cybersecurity training requirements, and compliance with laws such as the Civil Rights Act and Americans with Disabilities Act. Grantees will be required to submit quarterly performance reports and a final report detailing intern recruitment, placement, completion rates, and post-internship employment outcomes. The funding is designed to support workforce development by helping students explore career paths, develop industry-specific skills, and gain meaningful work experience across various sectors.