Business notebook: Abilene receives $375,000 for Dyess connectivity project
The Texas Military Preparedness Commission on Tuesday approved a grant request from the city of Abilene to provide 50% of funding for improvements to broadband connectivity at Dyess Air Force Base, the Abilene Military Affairs Committee said in a news release Thursday.
Through the grant, the state will provide $375,000 for a $750,000 project to expand fiber optic and 5G infrastructure at the base. The Development Corporation of Abilene has allocated another $300,000 for the project, with the remainder provided by a variety of additional sources, the release said.
Connectivity improvements at facilities used by base personnel and their families will be funded through local private contributions.
The state's funding will be provided through the Defense Economic Adjustment Assistance Grant program, through which governmental entities can apply for aid to improve infrastructure at military installations. Abilene has receive three other DEAAG grants in the past five years, which helped to fund improvements to the perimeter security fence, expansion of the Visitors Access Control Center and new security gates.
"The state of Texas award of the DEAAG grant just exemplifies the city of Abilene's dedication to the mission, airmen, and families of Dyess who protect this great nation," Mayor Anthony Williams said in the release. "We could not be prouder to play part in that."
Workforce Solutions presents contest prizes to area classrooms
Workforce Solutions of West Central Texas recently present prizes totaling more than $16,000 in value to area middle and high schools that participated in the 2021 Careers in Action video contest.
Through the contest, students - under teacher direction - submitted short videos highlighting jobs in selected industries in the region, with winning submissions selected by guest judges from area businesses, media and schools.
Finalists were selected from five industry categories and divisions, with separate classifications for middle schools and high schools and large schools and small schools.
The grand prize was awarded to Madison Galle's class at Eula High School for their video on HVAC. Other winners were submitted from schools in Abilene, Wylie, Anson, Clyde, Highland, Ira, Coleman and Munday districts.
Finalists were awarded prize packages of their choosing valued at $700, with possible items including an iPad Pro or DSLR camera.
The awards presentation can be viewed at wfswct.org/cia.
Texas State Technical College to help train Hendrick Health staff
In partnership with Practice Management Institute, Texas State Technical College will train Hendrick Health staff members on new business practices and systems, the school said in a Tuesday news release.
According to the release, TSTC was recently awarded a grant of $255,586 from the Texas Workforce Commission to facilitate the training, which will be provided to Hendrick employees in Abilene and Brownwood.
TSTC and PMI employees will present courses on topics including clinical documentation and medical and billing coding systems.
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Business notebook: Abilene gets $375,000 for Dyess tech project
