Special to the Times-Review
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The Hill College Automotive Technology Department will be awarded more than $186,000 from the Texas Comptroller’s Office as part of the Jobs and Education for Texans grant. The comptroller’s office awarded more than $3.84 million to 22 community colleges across the state.
According to Texas Comptroller Susan Combs, this money will help schools buy specialized equipment and training materials to support workforce development programs, continuing education training courses and certificate and associate degree programs experiencing rapidly increasing enrollment.
In 2009, the Texas Legislature approved the $25 million JET program to help Texans get technical training for careers in fast-growing, “high-demand” occupations.
The comptroller’s office will administer these dollars as the Every Chance Funds with three distinct components: the Launchpad Fund, the Job Building Fund and the Career and Technical Scholarship Fund.
Hill will receive funds from the Job Building Fund, which specifically provides grants to public community colleges and technical schools to help purchase equipment for high-demand and technical programs.
The monies allocated through this grant will be used to purchase Snap-on tool storage, vehicle lifts and a compressed air system that includes installation.
All of this equipment will be part of the Snap-on Certification Center opening this fall in Cleburne.
“This grant allows us to buy equipment that is vital to the department that we wouldn’t be able to purchase otherwise,” said Jerry Hampton, automotive technology instructor.
Schools that receive Job Building Fund grants must provide matching funds in the form of cash, equipment, materials, supplies and/or personnel costs.
Selection was based on each project’s potential economic return to the state and on endeavors that involve dual-credit programs with local high schools or cooperative arrangements with other colleges.
For more information about Hill College Automotive Technology, call 817-556-2809, ext. 203.
