Skills for Small Business
The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) dedicates up to $2 million from the Skills Development Fund to support the backbone of Texas’s business community—our more than 433,000 small employers. Through the Skills for Small Business program, small businesses can apply for training provided by their local community or technical college, or the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX). TWC processes applications and collaborates with the college to fund specific courses selected by businesses for their employees.
This program supports businesses with fewer than 100 employees, emphasizing training for newly hired employees (those hired within twelve months prior to TWC’s receipt of an application) while also offering opportunities to upgrade the skills of incumbent workers.
About the Program
| This program emphasizes new and incumbent employees for small businesses. |
| The program funds $2000 per new employee and $1000 per incumbent employee. |
| Funding for training is for full-time employees. |
| All training must be provided by a public community or technical college, or the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX). No third-party vendor training is allowed. |
| Training must be selected from active course catalogs/schedules – credit, continuing education, on-line or other available unpublished courses. |
| Employers must pay the prevailing wages in the local labor market for the trainees funded under the grant. |
Application Process for Businesses
| Our Business Services staff will assist you to: |
| Identify new or incumbent employees to be trained. |
| Identify each employee’s job/occupation title and corresponding Standard Occupational Classification Code (SOC). |
| Identify employee’s wages. Wages must meet prevailing wage for the Texas Panhandle area. |
| Identify the 2-year Public Community or Technical College nearest your business’ location. |
| Select training course(s) from the regular credit, continuing education and/or on-line course catalogs. |
| Complete and submit application directly to TWC. |
Resources
Skills Development Fund
The Skills Development Fund (SDF) supports Texas employers by funding customized job training projects tailored to their specific business needs. This program combines business requirements with local training opportunities to enhance the skill levels and wages of the Texas workforce. Employers are encouraged to contact the Workforce Solutions Panhandle Business Services Unit for more information on accessing these opportunities.
Key features of the SDF program include:
- Single-business projects can be up to $500,000
- Cost per trainee target of $2,000
- Customized training to fit business needs
- Training for full-time employees
- 12-month grant term
About the Program
| Supports training for both new and incumbent employees to meet business needs |
| Provides up to $2,000 per new employee and $1,000 per incumbent employee for training costs |
| Funding is available for full-time employees only |
| Training must be provided by a public community or technical college, or the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX); no third-party vendor training is permitted |
| Employers must pay prevailing wages in the local labor market for trainees funded under the grant |
Application Process for Businesses
| Our Business Services staff will guide you through the process to: |
| Identify new or incumbent employees eligible for training |
| Determine each employee’s job/occupation title and corresponding Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code |
| Verify employee wages, ensuring they meet the prevailing wage for the Texas labor market |
| Locate the nearest 2-year public community or technical college to your business |
| Select appropriate training courses from the institution’s credit, continuing education, or online course catalogs |
| Complete and submit the application directly to the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) |
SDF Resources
Contact Our Staff
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Sarah Barnes
Phillip Flores
Shannon Rowell
