TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION SKILLS FOR VETERANS

Category: State

This program is administered by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) and pays tuition and fees for employees that are military veterans to take courses from the existing course catalogue of a partner community college or public technical college.  Employers may receive wage reimbursement over a 12-month period with an estimated benefit of $1,800 per trainee.  The TWC Skills for Veterans initiative dedicates $1 million from the Skills Development Fund to address the training needs of post-9/11 veterans returning home and entering the Texas workforce. Skills for Veterans will enhance the skills of veterans, which will benefit Texas employers. Employers who hire post-9/11 era veterans, especially those who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn or Operation Enduring Freedom, may be eligible to participate in this training opportunity.  All private businesses, including private, nonprofit hospitals, can apply to TWC for training offered by their local community or technical college, or the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), to upgrade the skills of newly hired veterans. We review the applications and work with the college to fund the specific courses selected by businesses for their employees.   Private Texas employers can apply to the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) for the Returning Veterans Skills Training Grant by partnering with established training providers such as community colleges, apprenticeship training programs, or community-based training programs with demonstrated experience. Employers must be based in Texas and good standing and in compliance with the Texas Unemployment Compensation Act and other applicable state and federal labor laws.  Veterans eligible for skills training scholarships must: be discharged or released from active duty within the previous 36 months under conditions other than dishonorable; have served during war, campaign. or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized;, employed by a participating employer or have an offer of employment from a participating employer; and provide a DD-214 to document service status.  Scholarship funds can be used to pay tuition, books, and fees for eligible veterans. Scholarships may be granted for amounts up to $1,000 per scholarship. Scholarships may exceed $1,000 with sufficient justification. The veteran's GI Bill is not affected.  BRANCH: No Requirement.   ERA OF SERVICE:  No Requirement.  CAREER PHASE:  Veterans. Retired Military Transitioning Military.  VA DISABILITY RATING REQUIREMENT:  No Disability Requirement.  DISCHARGES ALLOWED:  Honorable.  General Under Honorable.