AUSTIN (KAMR/KCIT) — Officials with the Texas Workforce Commission invite employers to apply to the Texas Industry Recognized Apprenticeship grant program (TIRA). TWC will be awarding nearly $10 million through TIRA to eligible private-sector employers in Texas.
According to a TWC press release, TWC requested this funding, and it was approved by the Texas Legislature and Governor Greg Abbott, aiming to address industrial workforce needs caused by natural disasters and workforce shortages.
“Apprenticeships are helping to fill critical skills gaps in Texas’ expanding economy,” said TWC Chairman Bryan Daniel. “The TIRA grant program will help elevate Texas’ workforce, address the needs of employers, and bolster the Lone Star State’s reputation as the best state for business.”
The release stated that the TIRA program is Texas-funded, unlike the registered Apprenticeship program which is federally funded.
“The TIRA grant program will give Texans the chance to learn a highly skilled trade in industries where demand is highest and opportunity is greatest,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Alberto Treviño III. “This grant program is a major investment in helping Texans obtain high-demand skills.”