Cumby Independent School District Receives A $181,574 Grant To Train 31 Students
Cumby ISD, Paris Junior College Win State Grants to Expand Career Training
October 3, 2025 – CUMBY, Texas – Students in Northeast Texas will soon have new opportunities to train for high-demand careers, thanks to more than $1.9 million in career training grants announced this week by Governor Greg Abbott. Among the seven recipients, Cumby Independent School District and Paris Junior College were awarded funding to expand nursing and technical education programs.
Cumby ISD received $181,574 to purchase equipment that will allow 31 students to train as licensed practical and vocational nurses. The program will be developed in partnership with Paris Junior College, strengthening ties between local high schools and higher education institutions to ensure students can transition directly into the healthcare workforce.
Paris Junior College itself secured a separate $332,450 grant to train 60 students as industrial machinery mechanics, a field critical to manufacturing and industrial operations across the region. College officials said the funds will help update labs with modern equipment, ensuring graduates are prepared for today’s technical demands.
“These investments directly benefit our students and our community,” said a Paris Junior College representative. “By equipping classrooms and labs with the latest technology, we are preparing students for good-paying jobs that are available right here in Texas.”
Governor Abbott emphasized that the Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) grants are about strengthening both education and the economy. “These grants ensure students will gain the tools and training they need to secure good-paying jobs and promising career opportunities,” Abbott said.
The Texas Workforce Commission, which administers the JET program, estimates the new grants will support training for more than 520 students across the region in fields ranging from nursing to welding to semiconductor manufacturing.
For Cumby ISD and Paris Junior College, the funds mark a major step in expanding access to career and technical education while addressing the state’s growing workforce needs.+
