Collin College and a rural Collin County school district are among the winners of more than $20 million in state career-training grants announced Monday, and both awards go to welding.
The college will receive $346,697 to train 120 students as welders, according to Gov. Greg Abbott's office. Blue Ridge ISD gets $346,185 to train 135 students as welders in partnership with Collin College.
The money comes from the Texas Workforce Commission's Jobs and Education for Texans program, known as JET. The grants pay for equipment to start or expand career and technical education programs that lead to jobs in high-demand fields. The state announced 84 awards this round, split between 27 public junior, state and technical colleges and 57 school districts and charter schools.
Together, the equipment is expected to help train more than 7,400 students in its first year, the governor's office said.
"Students deserve a clear and affordable path to high-paying careers," Abbott said in the announcement.
Where Collin's welders train
Collin College teaches all of its welding courses at its Technical Campus, 2550 Bending Branch Way in Allen, according to the program's page. The credit program runs as a cohort, with students starting together and moving through the courses as a group, and it offers morning, afternoon, evening and weekend class blocks during the fall and spring.
