Legislative Services

Building the Texas Broadband Workforce Grant Program

The Building the Texas Broadband Workforce Grant Program is a competitive grant program designed to award grant funds to one or more organizations to create or enhance training programs to fully equip individuals with the skills and capabilities to lay out, install, or maintain fiber optic cabling.  This grant program is designed to support federal and state-funded fiber broadband initiatives, as well as ongoing and future private investments, with a focus on expanding broadband access by connecting communities to reliable internet. Applications that design and implement a training program that focuses on certifying trainees with credentials to support local network buildouts throughout the state are more likely to be successful. According to the Broadband Development Office, proposed programs that incorporate Work-Based Learning, such as Registered Apprenticeships, Pre-Apprenticeships, and paid work experiences, will be viewed favorably. Applicants will also need to demonstrate partnerships and industry knowledge that support job placements. Funded projects must provide training at no cost to trainees (tuition-free). Proposals that maintain a low cost-per-trainee ratio will be prioritized. Eligible applicants include Councils of Government, Cities, Counties, higher education entities, nonprofit entities, private businesses, and more.