AUSTIN (WBAP/KLIF) – The State of Texas will invest an additional $94.6 million in federal funds to support higher education, according to Governor Greg Abbott.
Last year, the Governor allocated $175 million to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to support Texas higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This additional funding in higher education is an investment in job opportunities, our state’s economy, and a brighter future for Texas,” said Governor Abbott. “As we move forward from the pandemic, it is critical that we continue to support higher education to ensure more Texans are trained to face dynamic and unique challenges that will set them apart from others, and make them more competitive, in their field.”
Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick said that higher education is more important than ever to better train and prepare Texans to enter a “dynamic post-Covid economy.”
“This funding will help ensure our higher ed institutions are able to equip our students quickly to take their place in the Texas workforce and ensure our global economy continues to prosper,” said Lt. Governor Patrick.
The federal funds come from Governor’s Emergency Education Relief dollars that were made available through passage of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.
The Governor’s Office said that the funding includes $48.1 million to expand capacity for high-demand and high-value educational opportunities, including $5 million for work-based learning and apprenticeships. It also includes $28.5 million to accelerate enrollments, and $10 million to establish the My Texas Future program to provide curated one-stop advising resources to help traditional Texas students and adult learners to connect with higher education opportunities across the state.
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