(a) Applicants shall be selected for funding based on requirements and award criteria provided in the RFA. Award criteria shall at a minimum include consideration of the following key factors:
  (1) Projects that lead to postsecondary industry certifications or other workforce credentials required for high-demand occupations;
  (2) Projects that are developed and provided in consultation with employers who are hiring in high-demand occupations;
  (3) Projects that create pathways to employment for students and learners;
  (4) Projects with at least one eligible entity located in each region of the state to the extent practicable;
  (5) Projects that ensure that each training program matches regional workforce needs, are supported by a labor market analysis of job postings and employers hiring roles with the skills developed by the program; and do not duplicate existing program offerings except as necessary to accommodate regional demand; and
  (6) The evaluation of the application by three or more selected reviewers as determined by THECB staff.
(b) Projects may be given preference that:
  (1) Represent a consortium of lower-division institutions of higher education;
  (2) Prioritize training to displaced workers;
  (3) Offer affordable training programs to students; or
  (4) Partner with employers, local chambers of commerce, trade associations, economic development corporations, and local workforce boards to analyze job postings and identify employers hiring roles with the skills developed by the training programs.

Source Note: The provisions of this §13.406 adopted to be effective May 18, 2023, 48 TexReg 2496; amended to be effective May 16, 2024, 49 TexReg 3260