Alamo Colleges District’s Northwest Vista College and Partners Celebrate $10.4 Million Grant to Expand Workforce Training Across Texas

The Alamo Colleges District and Northwest Vista College joined education and workforce partners today to announce a $10.4 million federal grant to expand access to short-term workforce training across Texas.

Northwest Vista College will lead the four-year initiative, funded through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants program, in partnership with the Texas Association of Community Colleges (TACC) and the Ray Marshall Center at The University of Texas at Austin.

The project, Building Local Capacity for Workforce Pell Data in Texas,, is expected to serve 22,532 participants and help Texas community colleges prepare short-term workforce programs for Workforce Pell eligibility, enabling qualifying students to access federal financial aid for certain short-term training programs.

The initiative will focus on three high-demand industries: AI infrastructure and information technology, advanced manufacturing and industrial trades, and healthcare and allied health.

“This is an important opportunity for Northwest Vista College and our partners across Texas,” said Dr. Amy Bosley, Northwest Vista College President. “We know there are students who want to gain new skills or enter the workforce quickly, but cost can stand in their way. Through this initiative, we're helping colleges prepare to offer more programs that can connect students with good-paying careers.”

All five Alamo Colleges — Northeast Lakeview College, Northwest Vista College, Palo Alto College, St. Philip’s College and San Antonio College — will participate alongside 32 Texas community college partners and more than 60 employer partners.

For years, students pursuing short-term workforce certificates have had limited access to federal financial aid compared to students enrolled in traditional degree programs. With Workforce Pell on the horizon, the grant will help colleges prepare to offer more eligible programs and strengthen their ability to track student employment outcomes.

“For many of our students, the cost of education can be the difference between pursuing a career goal and putting it on hold,” said Dr. Mike Flores, Alamo Colleges District Chancellor. “This grant will help community colleges across Texas prepare for Workforce Pell and create more opportunities for students to earn credentials that lead to better-paying jobs. It's work that speaks directly to our Moonshot of partnering to end poverty through education and training.”

The initiative builds on the Alamo Colleges District's efforts to expand access to workforce education through programs such as the Alamo Technical Institute and partnerships with local employers.

TACC will serve as the statewide coordinating partner, providing technical assistance, shared tools and support to participating colleges. The Ray Marshall Center will lead efforts to strengthen employment outcomes data and help colleges track how students fare in the workforce after completing their programs.

“Texas has already made important investments in ensuring community college students earn credentials that have value in the workforce,” said Ray Martinez III, President and CEO of the Texas Association of Community Colleges. “This grant builds on that progress. By giving colleges better access to employment data and the tools to use it, we can help them prepare for Workforce Pell and continue improving the opportunities available to students.”

During the press conference, Northwest Vista College student Caroline Medina shared her experience pursuing a Bachelor of Applied Technology in Cloud Computing and the importance of making technical education more affordable.

Medina, a first-generation college student from San Antonio, is expected to graduate in December. During her time at Northwest Vista College, she has maintained a 4.0 GPA and gained hands-on experience in robotics, artificial intelligence and cloud computing through a summer research opportunity.

She also spoke about the additional costs students face when pursuing technology careers, including industry certification exams, cloud hosting services and equipment needed to gain practical experience.

“Access to funding isn't just about paying tuition — it's about equipping us to stay competitive, stay employable, and step straight into high-paying, family-sustaining careers,” Medina said. “There were semesters where I personally lacked the extra funding to take the training for certifications I desperately needed, even while maintaining top grades.”

Through the four-year grant, participating colleges will receive support to strengthen workforce programs, improve employment data tracking and prepare more short-term training opportunities for Workforce Pell.

“Caroline's story is a great example of why this work is so important,” Bosley said. “Our students are talented, motivated and ready to work hard. We want to make sure they have the resources and opportunities to reach their goals.”