TWC Awards More Than $240,000 For Healthcare Workforce Training In Houston

HOUSTON, Texas (TXAN 24) — The Texas Workforce Commission has awarded more than $240,000 to Dwyer Workforce Development to provide tuition-free certified nurse aide training to 80 Houston-area residents facing significant barriers to employment.

The Lone Star Workforce of the Future Fund grant will support the program in partnership with Launch Point CDC in Northeast Houston. Along with CNA training, participants will receive individualized support, including case management and need-based assistance with transportation, housing, food and childcare.

Graduates will be connected with employment opportunities at hospitals, long-term care facilities and other healthcare providers across Harris County.

“This funding gives hardworking Texans a path to long-term careers and helps healthcare employers build the skilled workforce pipeline they need,” TWC Chairman Joe Esparza said.

Dwyer Workforce Development CEO Barb Clapp said the investment will help Houston residents build healthcare careers while supporting families and strengthening the region’s healthcare workforce.

The grant is part of the Lone Star Workforce of the Future Fund, established by the Texas Legislature in 2023. The fund received $5 million in appropriations for the 2024-2025 biennium.

Dwyer Workforce Development is a national nonprofit focused on healthcare workforce development. The organization provides CNA training, job placement assistance, wraparound services and case management to participants known as Dwyer Scholars.