Frank Phillips College Awarded TRUE Grant
Frank Phillips College has been awarded $530,000 through The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) Texas Reskilling and Upskilling through Education (TRUE) Grant Program. The program was established to support the creation, expansion, or redesign of workforce education and training programs in high-demand occupations.
Dr. Glendon Forgey, President of Frank Phillips College, stated, “The college is very appreciative of the THECB awarding this grant to FPC. The funds from this grant will significantly impact the ability of the college to increase workforce opportunities in welding, commercial truck driving, and other areas. These are areas with high job demand that will provide meaningful benefits to our citizens, businesses, industries, and other community members.”
The TRUE grant will help establish new programs for the Borger campus including CDL, crane training, and expanding the welding department with equipment and infrastructure. Additionally, the Allen Campus in Perryton will also add welding equipment and a CDL instructor, along with scholarship support for those programs at the Borger, Dalhart, and Perryton campuses.
Commissioner of Higher Education Harrison Keller said, “TRUE grants are an important tool to support our Texas institutions in achieving the goals of our state strategic plan for higher education, Building a Talent Strong Texas.” He further stated, “these grants are specifically designed to help more Texans earn credentials aligned with current and emerging workforce needs and expand opportunities for long-term success.”
These funds enable Texas public community and state technical colleges, as well as economic development organizations, to develop and provide short-term certification and workforce programs, in consultation and partnership with workforce stakeholders, which create pathways to employment.
“The TRUE program will unlock the exceptional potential of Texas’ economic engine, ensuring educational opportunities and a ready and trained workforce that will meet the needs of our rapidly growing state,” said Senator Brandon Creighton, who authored Senate Bill 1102 that established the TRUE initiative.
Programs supported by TRUE funds must be shorter than six months in duration, industry-aligned, in high-value/high-need fields, and developed with the participation of key workforce stakeholders, such as workforce boards, economic development corporations, trade associations, industry representatives, and employers.
