SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 461
WHEREAS, The prosperity of Texas increasingly depends upon
highly educated and skilled workers, and six nonprofit workforce
development groups across the state have been greatly assisted in
their efforts by the Texas Innovative Adult Career Education
Grant Fund; and
WHEREAS, Established by the Texas Legislature in 2013, the
fund provides matching monies to regional partnerships of
community organizations, employers, and community colleges, with
the goal of helping to break the link between poverty and
undereducation; and
WHEREAS, The six workforce development organizations that
have received matching funds are Project QUEST in San Antonio,
the Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement in the Rio
Grande Valley, Project ARRIBA in El Paso, Capital IDEA of Central
Texas, Skill QUEST in Dallas, and Capital IDEA Houston; more than
12,000 Texans have embarked on new careers in health care,
technology, and the trades through education supported by those
groups; and
WHEREAS, Since 2014, thanks to the matching funds, nearly
800 workers have started jobs in new industries at an average
hourly rate of $20.66; this year alone, the six organizations are
supporting the career education of 2,482 low-income individuals,
nearly half of whom are receiving training because of aid from
the fund; for every dollar invested, the six groups return
between $12.12 and $26.10 to the community, taxpayers, and
participants; moreover, in Central Texas, the graduates of
Capital IDEA send 70 percent of their children to college; and
WHEREAS, By augmenting the resources available to the six
participating workforce organizations, the Texas Innovative
Adult Career Education Grant Fund has improved outcomes in
developmental education, graduation rates, continuing attendance
in postsecondary institutions, and placement in high-skill
careers, and the staff and volunteers of those programs may take
great pride in helping the next generation of Texans prepare for
the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th
Legislature, hereby honor Project QUEST, the Valley Initiative
for Development and Advancement, Project ARRIBA, Capital IDEA of
Central Texas, Skill QUEST, and Capital IDEA Houston for their
commitment to strengthening the skills of Texas workers and for
their careful stewardship of the taxpayer dollars entrusted to
them by the Texas Innovative Adult Career Education Grant Fund;
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for each
organization as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate.
Hinojosa
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on March 20, 2017.
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Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate