AUSTIN - Governor Greg Abbott today has charged Tri-Agency Workforce Partners, including the Texas Workforce Commission, Texas Education Agency and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board with developing an education and workforce training plan to support the rebuilding of communities impacted by Hurricane Harvey and to put Texans back to work.

“The impact of Harvey is being felt in the most crucial part of people’s lives, including their ability to get back to work,” said Governor Abbott. “The Tri-Agency Workforce Commission was established to ensure that employers and employees have the ability to connect, and the aftermath of this storm provides an opportunity for that work to continue. Employers in various fields are going to need an array of new talent in their workforce and affected Texans are looking for ways to get back on their feet. This collaboration can help ensure all these needs are being met.”

Governor Abbott has charged the Commissioners with the following:

• Commissioners should work together to implement strategies to quickly put Texans back to work.
• Commissioners should work with local workforce development boards, secondary and postsecondary institutions and other stakeholders to develop and implement strategies to upskill the Texas workforce and rebuild our local communities.
• Commissioners should work with industry, non-profits and other community-based organizations, including those serving veterans, to create training models that will sustain the dynamic industries in the impacted areas.