Every Chance Funds: Program Background

According to the Comptroller’s 2008 Texas Works report:

the number of jobs requiring technical training, certifications or associate degrees is outpacing the number of people available to fill them despite the fact that many pay above-average salaries.
employers across the state are raising the alarm about the need for more skilled workers.
multiple paths to high school graduation and postsecondary training and education will help reduce the skilled-worker gap and could help reduce dropout rates; current state policy focuses on a single path to a four-year degree.
Texas population projections point to a less educated work force if the state continues on its current path, negating the economic advantage of a younger average working population.
funding to public two-year institutions has not kept pace with the high demand for vocational, technical and associate degree training, even though these investments have high returns.

One of the vital roles of the Comptroller is to predict how and where our economy will grow and to provide state leaders with critical information for future decisions.

In December, Combs released Texas Works, a report detailing the widening gap between the skills required in today's job market and the number of graduates trained with those skills coming out of our education system. The report indicated how many Texas businesses have a hard time finding skilled technical workers, and numerous employers said dwindling enrollment in vocational training programs negatively affects their businesses.

The 2009 Texas Legislature approved a new $25 million Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) program to meet this demand.

View program rules established by the Comptroller’s office (Texas Administrative Code)

The Comptroller’s office will administer these dollars as the Every Chance Funds with three categories of funding:

A $10 million Job Building Fund will help finance equipment purchases for new career and technical education programs started throughout the state that support high-growth industries. The Job Building Fund will require matching local funds and be awarded on a competitive basis.
Another $10 million fund, the Launchpad Fund, will support and expand existing nonprofit programs with a proven track record of good performance. The money from this fund will be allocated to develop, support or expand programs of nonprofit organizations that prepare low-income students for careers in high-demand occupations. These innovative and successful organizations also assist students in applying and enrolling in a public community college or technical school.
Finally, the $5 million Career and Technical Scholarship Fund allocates money for approved training programs for high-demand occupations to fulfill future work force needs in Texas. Students who apply for these scholarships must seek a certificate or associate's degree in one of these high-demand occupations. Funds for scholarships covering tuition and fees will be granted directly to community and technical colleges to distribute to students with financial need.