AUSTIN — Leaders from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), community colleges, workforce boards and business and industry are gathering in Austin to discuss the most effective use of Texas training funds included in the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA).

TWC has allocated more than $150 million in ARRA funds to 28 local workforce boards across the state to support training and to help Texans find jobs.

“Newly available training funds should be targeted to bolster the skills of Texans who are out of work in order to help them get good jobs once our economy begins to recover,” said TWC Chairman Tom Pauken.

The money will expand existing Workforce Investment Act programs for adult, youth, and dislocated workers, and Wagner-Peyser Employment Services in local communities.

“In these difficult financial times, it is important to leverage resources and partnerships to meet training needs,” said Brazosport College President Dr. Millicent Valek, who also is president of the Texas Community College Association. “This conference provides an opportunity to share information about successful strategies.”

Valek is a speaker on Community College Flexibility: Responding to the Needs of the Texas Economy.

ARRA encourages local workforce boards to enter into contracts with community colleges to provide job training tailored to the needs of area business and industry. Other strategies include providing short-term training to large numbers of prospective workers.