Press Release
U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $1.25 Million to Expand Workforce Training Opportunities in New Braunfels, Texas
Contact: Public Affairs Department, (202) 482-4085
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.25 million grant to the city of New Braunfels, Texas. The funding will support the expansion of the Central Texas Training Center, which provides critical science and technical training to the workforce in the cities of New Braunfels and Sequin and the counties of Comal and Guadalupe.
“The Obama administration is committed to investing in workforce training that gives people the skills they need to fill open jobs in growing industries in their local communities,” said Secretary Pritzker. “This EDA investment will help support critical infrastructure and more skilled training opportunities to help meet the growing demand for manufacturing jobs in Central Texas.”
According to grantee estimates, the Central Texas job training center has seen increased enrollments over the last six years and no longer has the capacity to meet demand. EDA’s investment will support the construction of a new 30,000-square-foot building that will house general instructional space, biology and chemistry labs, student support areas, and faculty offices. The additional space will allow the training center to keep pace with demand and continue training the Central Texas workforce with the skills employers in the area need.
About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.