Aug. 12, 2003

Gov. Perry Announces Wagner-Peyser Grant Awards

Governor's Office Establishes Criteria for Workforce Development Awards

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry today announced the awarding of almost $1 million in federal grants to three Texas job training projects. Funding for these awards comes from the Wagner-Peyser Grant Program, which is administered through the Governor’s Office.

The grant recipients include:

$500,000 to the Alamo Community College District for the Central Texas Technology Center in New Braunfels to help train up to 1,000 individuals including at-risk high school students, unskilled workers and adults who did not graduate from high school.
$300,000 to the American G.I. Forum for employment services for 94 veterans.
$181,950 to the Frankston Independent School District for the training and education of 150 high school students to prepare for college, 50 teachers for enhanced computer skills and 100 adults for continuing education coursework.

“Workforce development at the local level remains critical to our state’s continued economic growth,” Perry said. “By encouraging programs that strengthen the workforce, we promote future job creation and economic development in communities across Texas.”

Perry said the grant awards are contingent on each applicant agreeing to comply with a new set of guidelines established by the Governor’s Office. The criteria are designed to assure these federal grant dollars are being utilized efficiently and for the intended purpose.

The new guidelines increase program monitoring and reporting, establish performance measures and scheduled audits, and require applicants to meet new standards on fiscal accountability.

“Taxpayers expect that their tax dollars will be spent efficiently, appropriately and entrusted to programs that serve a designated purpose in the community,” Perry said. “The criteria established by my office for Wagner-Peyser funds will help assure these federal dollars are being used to assist job training programs for the true benefit of all Texans.”

The grants, part of a $5 million Wagner-Peyser allocation to Texas, are given annually to various organizations to provide workforce training programs. Wagner-Peyser Grants are evaluated each year and are not designed as an ongoing entitlement.