85R16604 JGH-D

By: Hinojosa H.R. No. 921

R E S O L U T I O N

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 Fund; and

WHEREAS, Established by the Texas Legislature in 2013, the ACE 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 ACE 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 ACE 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 ACE 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 House of Representatives of the 85th Texas Legislature hereby honor Project QUEST, VIDA, 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 Fund; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for each organization as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.