Governor Greg Abbott toured the South Plains College Automotive Technology and Welding Facility on Tuesday and delivered remarks on the creation of the Texas Jobs Council and the state’s investments in career and technical education.
Abbott was joined by joined by Teamsters Local 988 President Robert Mele, Texas Association of Community Colleges President and CEO Ray Martinez III, SPC President Robin Satterwhite, and Texas State Rep. Ken King.
Also attending were Mayor Breann Buxkemper, County Judge Sharla Baldridge, and other city, county and school administration officials.
According to Abbott, Texas is the leading state for business and labor opportunities, and to maintain that dominance, both sectors are working together to meet the high demand for high skilled labor, positions like electricians, pipe fitters, welders and much more. To galvanize that partnership, the Texas Jobs Council is on a unified mission to benefit all Texans.
“We are building and manufacturing the future of the entire world right here in the State of Texas,” said Abbott. “We are united on a mission that benefits all Texans: keep Texas the number one state for business, jobs, employment opportunities, and workforce training programs to ensure great careers for generations to come.”
Abbott said colleges South Plains College, which has 74 technical program is among the many in Texas providing career paths, along with grants and other resources and the opportunity is there for those who want to go from high school into a lucrative, fullfilling career with many graduates going on to make six figures. Career training and technical education opportunities are bigger and better than ever before.
Texas has invested more than $7 billion in career training programs in the past two years, said Abbott. In 2025, the governor signed HB 20, which created the Applied Sciences Pathway Program, allowing high school juniors and seniors to have additional opportunities to earn high school diplomas while concurrently completing workforce certificate programs. The bill strengthened college, career, and military readiness in Texas public schools by expanding access to highquality CTE programs, improving college and career advising by ensuring counselors use up-to-date workforce data, and providing funding for military training programs In 2025, Abbott also signed SB 2448 which establishes the Rural Workforce Development Grant Program to provide grants to nonprofits for supporting rural educational institutions in aligning workforce training and education programs to meet local workforce demands.
Abbot said businesses are coming to Texas because they know our schools are preparing students with the skills that corporate leaders need. He addressed this need by announcing $14 million in Jobs and Education for Texans training grants last November to help schools across the state train the workforce of tomorrow. The funds will allow more than 6,500 students to earn certificates in automatic service, information security, truck driving, dental hygiene, nursing, HVAC, electrical repair & engineering, aircraft mechanics, welding, veterinary tech, phlebotomy, emergency medicine, construction management, and more.
Launched by Abbott in March 2026, the Texas Jobs Council (TJC) is a new advisory board designed to strengthen workforce development, focusing on training and apprenticeships to meet high-demand labor needs. It bridges business and labor leaders to address shortages in skilled trades like plumbing, welding, and electrical work.
“To meet workforce demands in our growing economy, the Texas Jobs Council will expand workforce training and enhance job opportunities for Texans across the state,” said Abbott.
The TJC is helping expand apprenticeships, onthe- job training opportunities, helps grow workforce pipeline and promotes careers in trades, helps meet workforce needs for the next generation.
The council will deliver a final report in November 2026 outlining recommended executive actions and legislative proposals to strengthen Texas’ workforce development system. At the time of its formation Abbott appointed the following members to the TJC, including Co-Chair, Brent Taylor VP South Teamsters Local 745 & Teamsters Joint Council 80; Co-Chair, Megan Mauro Interim President Texas Association of Business; Tony Bennett, President, Texas Association of Manufacturers; Todd Staples, President, Texas Oil and Gas Association; Hector Rivero, President, Texas Chemistry Council; Scott Norman, President, Texas Association of Builders; Robert Mele, President, Teamsters Local 988; Robert Wayne Lord, Business Manager, Plumbers Local Union 68; Alan Robb, Assistant General, International Longshoremen’s Assoc.; Lacy Wolf, President Heat and Frost Insulators, Local Union 22; Mark Maher Jr., Business Manager International Union of Operating Engineers 450; and Bryan Edwards, Business Manager, Pipefitters Local Union 211.