Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) announced $1,704,155,000 in funding for the 2017 fiscal year for Job Corps, a free training program that helps American youth develop job skills, find employment, and graduate high school or earn a GED. Congressman Cuellar successfully increased the funding by $15 million compared to last year.

Job Corps, run by the U.S. Department of Labor, is open to low-income youth ages 16-24 with legal status in the United States. It provides technical training, education, counseling, and related assistance as they complete their schooling or find work.

The Laredo Job Corps Center is one of four Job Corps locations in Texas, with a capacity of 220. In 2015, 71% of its participants had a full-time job or began military service. 64% of participants had received a GED or high school diploma, and 72.8% had completed career technical training. All those rates are higher than the national average.

Congressman Cuellar said:

“Job Corps puts young people on the path to the American dream through hard work and education. Not only does it set them up for economic success – it gives them the accomplishment, pride, and purpose that comes from earning a diploma or technical certification, and beginning a meaningful career. In my district, the Laredo Job Corps Center serves hundreds of young people every year who become valued members of our community. That’s why I am a former Co-Chair of the Friend of Job Corps Congressional Caucus, and why I added $15 million in additional funding this year, for a total of $1.7 billion.”

The Gary Job Corps Center in San Marcos is the largest Job Corps location in the state. It is operated by the Management & Training Corporation, whose Vice President, Celeste McDonald, said:

“We are so grateful to Rep. Cuellar for his relentless support of Job Corps.  As the operator of the Gary Job Corps in San Marcos, TX, which has the capacity to train over 1,400 students, we are committed to the success of every student. In the last program year, over 76% of all students earned a primary industry-recognized certification--the greatest predictor of job success. Over 87% of graduates are currently employed in high growth industries. Job Corps works, and so do its graduates!”

The provisions are part of the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2017, which passed the House of Representatives last month and which funds the federal government for the remainder of the 2017 fiscal year.

For more information on Job Corps, call (800) 733-5627. They have recruiting websites in English (https://recruiting.jobcorps.gov/) and Spanish (https://recruiting.jobcorps.gov/Home/Index). Constituents who need assistance with any federal agency or benefit are encouraged to contact Congressman Cuellar by filling out the form on his website www.cuellar.house.gov, or visiting one of his offices in Laredo, Mission, San Antonio, and Rio Grande City.