Texas IAF leaders were successful in transforming the JET Fund, “which gave nonprofits $10 million starting in the 2010-11 biennium to support career training programs for low-income students” into the Texas Innovative Adult Career Education (ACE) Grant program.  “The ACE grant program will award about $5 million under a similar model to nonprofits for the next biennium. It will be administered by Austin Community College, which will step into the comptroller’s office’s current oversight role….

Said Minerva Camarena-Skeith, a representative of Austin Interfaith, the nonprofit that helped found Capital IDEA with business community members and advocates for public funding: “It still gives these job-training programs the opportunity to apply for these $5 million, and also be able to leverage more city and local funds.”

[Photo Credit: Callie Richmond, Texas Tribune]

Job Training  Program Adjusts Amid Funding Cuts, Texas Tribune
Governor Signs Bill: $5 Million for Adult Career Training, Network of Texas IAF Organizations

A bill advocated by the Network of Texas IAF organizations (NTO) has been signed by Gov. Perry and is expected to fill high-demand, high-wage jobs in Texas. HB437 will move the successful JET Program’s Launchpad Fund to a new college home under the name ‘Texas Innovative Adult Career Education Grant Fund’.  The legislature also budgeted $5 million for the Fund to invest in high-skill training over the next two years.

“This legislation represents one of the best investments Texas can make in its people,” said Sister Pearl Caesar, Executive Director of Project Quest in San Antonio.  “The Network of Texas IAF Organizations and its allies are developing the workforce that our 21st century economy demands and that its business community deserves.”

The ‘Texas Innovative Adult Career Education Grant Fund’ continues the Launchpad Fund (NTO initiated the process to establish the fund in 2009) which provides state grants to innovative workforce intermediaries that partner with community colleges, public technical institutes and businesses.  The workforce intermediaries develop the capacity of under-educated and under-employed adults through certified training.   With the support of wrap-around services, graduates obtain a certificate or associate degree and move out of poverty and into family-wage jobs with benefits and a career path.

NTO, and its legislative allies, passed the bill with overwhelming bipartisan support in the Texas House and Senate.  Texas Senators Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, Kel Seliger, and Leticia Van de Putte, plus Representatives John Davis, Sylvester Turner and Mike Villarreal all played critical roles.

Community colleges cite the Texas IAF workforce intermediaries as valuable partners in improving rates of retention and graduation among non-traditional students.

The Network of Texas IAF Organizations (NTO) consists of twelve IAF organizations that have advocated for changes that strengthen Texas for over 30 years.  Among other things, NTO was responsible for the creation of six workforce intermediaries that trained 11,000 workers for hard-to-fill positions.

Sheets’ decision to focus on other legislation pleased Austin Interfaith, a coalition of congregations and social justice groups that has been pushing for the living-wage requirement. At the organization’s request, members of its Dallas-area counterpart and representatives of the Dallas affiliate of the Workers Defense Project met with Sheets, asking him to drop his legislation and citing, among other reasons, a desire for local control in such matters, said Kurt Cadena-Mitchell, an Austin Interfaith leader.

“I think we have a very balanced approach that is good for the city, the taxpayers, companies and contractors,” said Bob Batlan, a member of Temple Beth Shalom and Austin Interfaith involved in the living-wage discussions. “I’m pleased that (Sheets) recognizes the balanced approach.”

Legislator Backs Off Bill to Ban Living Wage Requirement, Austin American Statesman

“The Network of Texas Organizations, convened 200 leaders from various faith traditions on the steps of the Capitol to call on Gov. Rick Perry and the Texas Legislature to expand Medicaid.

Religious leaders and clergy from throughout the state gathered at the north entrance the Capitol to rally in support of Medicaid expansion” not just once, but twice.

Weeks later, leaders joined “hundreds on the front steps of the Capitol.”  Willie Bennett, along with 45 other Dallas Area Interfaith leaders, turned up for the march that snaked down Congress Avenue and up to the Capitol.  Bennett reported that more than 3,000 individuals and 38 institutions had signed up in favor of Medicaid expansion” by that time.

“Anderson and her 66-year-old mother, Martha Anderson, were among about 60 Tarrant County residents who gathered at the St. Andrews United Methodist Church in Fort Worth … for the 200-mile bus trip to Austin. The trip was organized by the Allied Communities of Tarrant (ACT)” in coordination with the Network of Texas Organizations, including Austin Interfaith, The Border Organization, EPISO, Border Interfaith, TMO, WIN, WTOS, Valley Interfaith and COPS / Metro Alliance.

[Photo Credit: Tamir Kalifa, Texas Tribune]

Interfaith Groups Rally for Medicaid Expansion, Texas Tribune
Faith Leaders Rally at Capitol for Medicaid, KXAN
Faith Leaders Rally for Bipartisan Support for Medicaid Expansion, Texas Observer
Death, Taxes, God and Medicaid, San Antonio Express-News
County Judges, Clergy Rally in Favor of Expanding Medicaid, Dallas Morning News
Rally at Capitol Urges Texas to Spend More on Medicaid, Star Telegram
Interfaith Groups Rally for Medicaid Expansion, The Monitor
El Paso Group Joins Others to Urge Expansion of Medicaid, El Paso Times
Protesters March on Texas Capitol for Expanded Medicaid, Star Telegram
Hundreds March to Capitol to Show Support for Medicaid Expansion, Dallas Morning News