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Building the Texas Broadband Workforce Grant Program
The Broadband Development Office (BDO) aims to bridge Texas' digital divide, ensuring all Texans have access to high-speed internet. The state has been allocated more than $5 billion through federal programs, such as the American Rescue Plan Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, as well as state revenue to expand broadband infrastructure across the state. In 2023, the Texas Legislature added to this federal investment by allocating $1.5 billion to the Broadband Infrastructure Fund (BIF) to expand access to reliable, high-speed internet connectivity. These investments have created a high demand for skilled telecommunications and fiber optic technicians.
Recognizing the urgent need for a trained workforce to support this historic broadband expansion across the state, the BDO published a Notice of Funding Availability for its Building the Texas Broadband Workforce Grant Program (the Program) on June 23, 2025 .
This competitive grant commits up to $25 million from the BIF to establish and expand tuition-free, industry-aligned training programs statewide. The goal is to ensure Texas has a robust and skilled workforce capable of meeting ambitious broadband deployment goals.
Program Details
The Program is a competitive grant program designed to award funds to eligible organizations that will create or enhance training programs to fully equip individuals with the skills and capabilities to lay out, install or maintain fiber optic cabling. The Program is intended to support federal and state-funded fiber broadband initiatives, as well as ongoing and future private investment focused on broadband expansion by connecting communities to reliable internet.
The Program focuses on tuition-free opportunities provided by select organizations, offering industry-recognized credentials, micro-credentials and postsecondary degrees that pave the way for careers in the broadband sector. Emphasis is placed on programs incorporating work-based learning, such as registered apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships and paid work experiences. Successful applicants must also demonstrate strong partnerships and industry knowledge to facilitate job placements for trainees.
Notice of Funding Availability
The BDO published a NOFA on June 23, 2025 , seeking all eligible applicants capable of increasing the availability of workforce training for the state’s broadband industry to apply for funds. Following the application window, the BDO will evaluate all eligible applications and expects to notify awardees by October 1, 2025. Information about the application submission and evaluation process are described in the program’s NOFA.
It is the responsibility of an interested party to check the solicitation page regularly for updates to this NOFA before submitting an application. Additional details about the program will be provided following an application challenge process and the issuance of awards.
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