Best Workforce Grants in Texas

The Norfolk Southern Corporate Giving: Thriving Communities Grant Program supports initiatives that promote sustainability, workforce development, and community resilience across a 22-state network. With grants ranging from $1,000 to $50,000, the program aims to foster economic development and ensure equal access to basic necessities. Eligible organizations include tax-exempt nonprofits, government entities, and public schools, emphasizing diversity and inclusion in their community-focused efforts.

The Texas Talent Connection Grant Program, led by Governor Abbott, aims to foster innovation in workforce development. This initiative supports exemplary training projects that enhance job placement, wage increases, and job retention. Eligible partnerships include local workforce boards and educational institutions, which can apply for funding up to $350,000 annually for projects addressing workforce populations with special needs. Applicants must reapply yearly, with no guarantee of continued funding.

Texas workforce and job-readiness nonprofits in Texas can access funding to develop a skilled workforce, support small business resilience, and reconnect disengaged workers. Grants from Texas Mutual help organizations provide apprenticeships, postsecondary credentials, and career pathways, with awards ranging from US $25,000 - US $100,000 for eligible projects statewide.

Arbor Rising Grant, established in 2010, is a NYC-based nonprofit providing unrestricted multi-year funding and capacity-building support to nonprofits focused on alleviating poverty. The grant process occurs every three years, with the next round in 2025 being invitation-only. Eligible organizations must demonstrate high potential and effective leadership, typically operating on a modest budget. Arbor Rising prioritizes applicants from the NYC metro area while expanding to cover the lower 48 US states.

The 2025-2026 Career and Technical Education State Student Organizations Grant supports thirteen organizations in Texas, fostering leadership and career development for students. This initiative emphasizes practical learning experiences, ensuring students gain vital skills for their future careers. The Texas Education Agency administers these funds to enhance educational opportunities, promoting personal growth and success in various technical fields.

The Texas Education Agency is launching the 2025-2026 Leadership Academy, which includes Specialized Leadership Coaching Teams. This initiative aims to develop aspiring school system leaders through effective programming grounded in research-based practices. Utilizing the Center for Effective Districts, the agency will provide logistical and operational support to enhance educational outcomes across Texas. This grant will play a crucial role in building leadership capacity within schools, fostering improved educational environments for students.

The 2025-2026 ESC Texas Strategic Leadership (TSL) Funding Grant, offered by the Texas Education Agency, aims to enhance public education by certifying ESC teams as TSL Lead Coaches and TSL Performance Management Data Specialists. This grant is designed for teams that complete a comprehensive year-long training program, contributing to the overall improvement of educational outcomes in Texas.

The Programmatic Support - Education Pillar Award by Honda aims to enhance workforce readiness in the manufacturing sector. It supports nonprofit organizations and schools focused on hands-on programs in design, software/data analytics, and AI/machine learning. Eligible applicants must be US-based and have 501(c)(3) status. The initiative prioritizes projects that train individuals for manufacturing roles, develop technical skills, and introduce automation to prepare for evolving industry demands, ultimately fostering economic prosperity in local communities.

Texas Education Agency

The Texas Education Agency is the state agency that oversees primary and secondary public education. It is headed by the commissioner of education. The Texas Education Agency improves outcomes for all public school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems.

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) administers federal and state grant awards to its subgrantees to carry out a program. Such entities include primarily school systems (referred to as local educational agencies [LEAs] in statutes), including independent school districts and charter schools; education service centers (ESCs); and, to a lesser degree, institutions of higher education (IHEs), nonprofit organizations (NPOs), and other statutorily allowable organizations.

P-TECH Continued Support Grant

Program Description

This grant will implement innovative strategies for providing a robust model of support to P-TECH campuses in the CCRSM network:

• Developing strategy and resources for successfully scaling CCRSM programs with fidelity to increase the number of CCRSM teachers and CCRSM students
• CCRSM leaders from campuses, districts, institutes of higher education, and business and industry to support and sustain a mature CCRSM model.

Nonprofit organizations in Texas that support working Texans through childcare access, primary healthcare, or basic needs for employment stability can seek funding to expand workforce opportunity programs. Texas Mutual Insurance Company’s Working Texans Economic Opportunity Grant offers US $25,000 - US $100,000 for initiatives that champion working parents, prioritize workforce wellness, or enable workforce advancement.

Texas Education Agency

The Texas Education Agency is the state agency that oversees primary and secondary public education. It is headed by the commissioner of education. The Texas Education Agency improves outcomes for all public school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems.

ESC Texas Instructional Leadership (TIL) Mentorship Grant

Program Description

The purpose of this grant is to provide for ESC-to-ESC mentorship with regards to ESCs’ efforts to implement Texas Instructional Leadership (TIL) training in their regions for the benefit of campuses and districts participating in school improvement activities. Participating ESC will provide year-long guidance, training, and coaching to other ESCs to support building, developing, and deploying their TIL teams.

Texas Education Agency

The Texas Education Agency is the state agency that oversees primary and secondary public education. It is headed by the commissioner of education. The Texas Education Agency improves outcomes for all public school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems.

The Division of Governance Interventions supports TEA’s mission and vision by providing exceptional leadership, guidance, and support to school system leadership teams and governing boards. The division collaborates with external field support agents appointed by the TEA Commissioner of Education to build sustainable systems aligned to core TEA initiatives, so that the school system thrives after the release of agency intervention. 

ESC Texas Instructional Leadership (TIL) Lead Grant

Program Description

This grant seeks to provide ongoing support and skill building opportunities to ESCs to allow them to grow their internal systems and structures to train, support, and coach ESC TIL coaches.

Texas Workforce Commission

Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is the state agency charged with overseeing and providing workforce development services to employers and job seekers of Texas. TWC strengthens the Texas economy by providing the workforce development component of the Governor's economic development strategy. Texas boasts an incredibly skilled workforce ready to attract enterprise to the Lone Star State. By focusing on the needs of employers, TWC gives Texas the competitive edge necessary to draw business here.

Lone Star Workforce of the Future Fund

The Lone Star Workforce of the Future Fund (LSWF) is a program to increase the supply of qualified workers for entry-level to mid-level jobs in high demand occupations. In doing so, LSWF will ensure that the Texas workforce is capable of filling available and emerging jobs in this state. Grants may be awarded to public junior colleges, public technical institutes, and nonprofit organizations with an active and current TWC account number to develop and administer training programs to support this goal.

40% of project funding must come from a source other than state government. At least 50% of program participants must be placed into high demand occupations that earn a self-sufficient wage. Program participants must be placed into occupations occurring in the private sector.

Texas Workforce Commission

Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is the state agency charged with overseeing and providing workforce development services to employers and job seekers of Texas. TWC strengthens the Texas economy by providing the workforce development component of the Governor's economic development strategy. Texas boasts an incredibly skilled workforce ready to attract enterprise to the Lone Star State. By focusing on the needs of employers, TWC gives Texas the competitive edge necessary to draw business here.

Self Sufficiency Fund Program

The Self Sufficiency Fund is a training grant to help individuals obtain industry recognized credentials and be placed in an occupation that provides a path toward Self Sufficiency. The program focuses on training for the following groups:

• Adult receiving government assistance such as Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
• Individuals at risk of becoming dependent on public assistance.
• Individuals earning less than $37,000 annually with a dependent child, custodial or non-custodial.
• Youth between the ages of 18-24 that are a part of a low-income household.

The Self Sufficiency program is administered by the Texas Workforce Commission, in partnership with public community and technical colleges, a higher education extension service, and community-based organizations, and is governed by the following rules and regulations:

• Texas Administrative Code, Title 40, Part 20, Chapter 835
• Texas Labor Code, Chapter 309

Program Requirements:

• Grantees must provide training that leads to an industry-recognized certificate or credential.
• Training can be for any target occupation or an occupation that is subject to approval by the local Workforce Development Board.
• Training must focus on core or support occupations that provide a path toward higher-level occupations.
• Various training methods are accepted, including classroom, simulations, and online instruction.
• Applicants may receive up to $500,000 for projects.
• Target cost is $2500 per trainee.
• Funding may include tuition, training materials, books and supplies.
• Job placement for participants is required and may be with any employer.

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is a partner, resource, and advocate to higher education institutions across the state.  

We work in partnership with the legislature, businesses, and other key stakeholders to ensure our state’s higher education goals are aligned with our state’s economic and talent needs. We are a steward to the state’s strategic plan for higher education, Building a Talent Strong Texas. 

And we help Texas students and families access the tools they need to choose a postsecondary pathway while connecting them to financial resources to support them on that pathway. We also help ensure transitions – from high school to postsecondary, between postsecondary institutions, and from postsecondary into the workforce – are efficient. 

Open Educational Resources Grant Program (OERGP)

Intent

Established in 2018, the OER Grant Program is a competitive program that provides grants to Texas public institutions of higher education to adopt, modify, redesign, or develop courses using only OER.

An Open Educational Resource (OER) is a teaching, learning, or research resource that is in the public domain or has been released under an intellectual property license that permits the free use, adaptation, and redistribution of the resource by any person. 

THECB expects to award two categories of grant awards under this Request for Applications (RFA): Nursing OER Adoption Grants and Workforce OER Collaborator Grants 

Workforce OER Collaborator Grants

For applicants to develop new or substantially improve existing OER for three, four, or five courses from the Workforce Education Course Manual (WECM) that use only OER, with priority for courses that are taught in support of THECB’s FY26-FY27 High-Demand Fields.

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is a partner, resource, and advocate to higher education institutions across the state.  

We work in partnership with the legislature, businesses, and other key stakeholders to ensure our state’s higher education goals are aligned with our state’s economic and talent needs. We are a steward to the state’s strategic plan for higher education, Building a Talent Strong Texas. 

And we help Texas students and families access the tools they need to choose a postsecondary pathway while connecting them to financial resources to support them on that pathway. We also help ensure transitions – from high school to postsecondary, between postsecondary institutions, and from postsecondary into the workforce – are efficient. 

Texas Reskilling and Upskilling through Education (TRUE) Grant Program

Intent

The goal of the Texas Reskilling and Upskilling through Education (TRUE) Grant Program is to support public higher education institutions to create, redesign and expand short-term career training and education programs in high-demand occupations.

TRUE Grant Program funding will be awarded competitively through a Request-For-Applications (RFA) process. The projects proposed are required to be for career training and education programs shorter than six months in duration, industry-aligned, in high-demand fields, and developed with the participation of key workforce actors such as employers, workforce boards, economic development corporations, and trade associations.