$444,830 Grant Expands Fast-Track Healthcare Training at Del Mar College

Del Mar College has been awarded a $444,830 Texas Reskilling and Upskilling through Education (TRUE) Grant to expand accelerated healthcare training programs across the Coastal Bend region.

The grant comes from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

It will fund training for 100 students in three high-demand healthcare occupations.

The programs are Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Phlebotomy Technician and Medical Administrative Assistant.

Forty students will train as CNAs.

Forty will train as phlebotomy technicians.

Twenty will train as medical administrative assistants.

The two-year grant runs from Dec. 1, 2026, through Dec. 1, 2028.

Open registration for the programs is scheduled to begin Jan. 5, 2027.

Thirty of those training opportunities have been designated for participants at the Del Mar College Workforce Development Center–Aransas County in Rockport, according to Rachel Benavides, Dean of Continuing and Community Education.

The initiative is designed to increase accessibility for working adults and underserved residents.

Course options include face-to-face, online, hybrid, evening and weekend formats.

The programs provide industry credentials that can be earned in six months or less.

Some training pathways can be completed in as little as six to 12 weeks.

According to labor market data from Workforce Solutions Coastal Bend, more than 3,600 positions exist across these healthcare occupations in the Coastal Bend region.

Regional average wages for these occupations range from $16.10 to $18.42 per hour.

The grant will support training for 40 CNA students, 40 Phlebotomy Technician students and 20 Medical Administrative Assistant students.

The College will also expand employer engagement efforts to connect students with practical training experiences and employment opportunities.

Partnerships supporting the initiative include Corpus Christi Medical Center.

By expanding access to accelerated, flexible healthcare training, Del Mar College is responding to critical workforce needs across the Coastal Bend, including course offerings at its newest off-campus site, the Workforce Development Center–Aransas County.

This grant will create new opportunities for residents to enter rewarding healthcare careers.

The TRUE Grant program is a state-level initiative focused on reskilling and upskilling Texas workers to meet evolving industry demands.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board administers the grant program.

Del Mar College, based in Corpus Christi, serves the Coastal Bend region with multiple campuses and workforce training centers.

The Workforce Development Center–Aransas County in Rockport opened as part of the college's strategy to extend training access to rural communities.

Rockport was heavily impacted by Hurricane Harvey in 2017, and the region has since focused on rebuilding its healthcare infrastructure and workforce.

The healthcare sector in the Coastal Bend has faced persistent shortages, particularly in entry-level clinical and administrative roles.

Certified Nursing Assistants provide basic patient care under the supervision of registered nurses or licensed practical nurses.

Phlebotomy Technicians draw blood for tests, transfusions, research or blood donations.

Medical Administrative Assistants handle scheduling, billing, patient records and other clerical tasks in healthcare settings.

The three occupations are among the most commonly listed entry-level healthcare jobs in the region.

Del Mar College's Continuing and Community Education division oversees the grant-funded programs.

The division focuses on non-credit workforce training that leads to industry-recognized credentials.

Benavides has emphasized the importance of reaching residents in Aransas County, where access to healthcare training has historically been limited.

The grant period covers nearly two full years of program delivery.

Registration opens in January 2027, with programs expected to begin shortly after.

The college has not yet announced specific start dates for each program track.

Employer engagement efforts will include partnerships with local hospitals, clinics and long-term care facilities.

Corpus Christi Medical Center is the named partner in the grant documentation.

The hospital system operates multiple facilities in the Coastal Bend, including a major acute care hospital in Corpus Christi.

Workforce Solutions Coastal Bend provided the labor market data that helped justify the grant application.

The data showed more than 3,600 current job openings across the three target occupations in the region.

Wages for these positions range from just over $16 per hour to more than $18 per hour, depending on experience and employer.

The grant aims to fill those vacancies with locally trained workers who already live in the communities they will serve.

Del Mar College has operated workforce training programs for decades, but the TRUE Grant specifically targets accelerated pathways.

Accelerated training means students can earn credentials in weeks or months rather than semesters or years.

This model is designed to get workers into the labor force quickly while still meeting state and industry certification standards.

The CNA program requires completion of a state-approved curriculum and passing the Texas Nurse Aide Competency Exam.

The Phlebotomy Technician program includes classroom instruction and clinical practice, leading to national certification exams.

The Medical Administrative Assistant program covers medical terminology, billing software, patient scheduling and HIPAA compliance.

All three credentials are recognized by employers across Texas.

The grant does not cover every cost for every student, but it reduces tuition and fees significantly.

Scholarship and financial aid options may also be available through the college's financial aid office.

The College has not released the exact tuition amount after grant subsidy.

Residents interested in the programs can attend information sessions scheduled through the Continuing and Community Education office.

The grant represents a targeted investment in the Coastal Bend's healthcare workforce at a time when demand is rising.

Texas faces a statewide shortage of healthcare workers, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

The TRUE Grant program is one of several state initiatives aimed at closing that gap.

Del Mar College's application emphasized the region's specific needs, including the aftermath of natural disasters and population growth in the Corpus Christi metropolitan area.

The grant award was announced by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in late 2026.

Richard Guerrero, Jr., reported the news for Del Mar College's official news outlet.

The college has not yet published the full list of program start dates or instructor assignments.

Prospective students are advised to monitor the Del Mar College Continuing and Community Education website for updates.

The Workforce Development Center–Aransas County is located in Rockport, about 30 miles north of Corpus Christi.

Rockport's economy relies heavily on tourism, fishing and small businesses, and healthcare jobs provide stable year-round employment.

The center opened in 2024 as part of Del Mar College's expansion into Aransas County.

This grant marks the first major state funding for healthcare training at that location.

Benavides has stated that the college intends to apply for additional grant funding in future cycles.

The TRUE Grant program is expected to continue through the 2028-2029 state budget cycle.

Del Mar College serves more than 30,000 students annually across all its programs.

The college's workforce training division has placed graduates at hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and home health agencies throughout the Coastal Bend.

Employer demand for CNAs, phlebotomists and medical administrative assistants has grown steadily since 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated retirements and burnout among healthcare workers, creating additional openings.

Workforce Solutions Coastal Bend projects continued growth in these occupations through 2030.

The $444,830 grant is expected to cover instructor salaries, equipment, supplies, clinical placement coordination and student support services.

No portion of the grant is allocated for college administrative overhead, according to the grant terms.

The college must submit quarterly progress reports to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Performance metrics include the number of students enrolled, the number who complete training, and the number who earn industry credentials.

The grant also requires tracking of job placement rates within six months of program completion.

Del Mar College has not yet released its target placement rate for this grant cycle.

Previous TRUE Grant programs at the college have reported placement rates above 80 percent.

The grant announcement did not specify whether students will receive job placement assistance after graduation.

The College's Career Services office typically provides resume help, interview coaching and employer connections.

The Corpus Christi Medical Center partnership may include preferential hiring for program graduates.

Details of that partnership have not been made public.

The grant runs through Dec. 1, 2028, meaning the last cohort of students must complete training before that date.

The college has not announced how many cohorts it plans to run during the grant period.

Given the six-to-12-week training timelines, multiple cohorts per year are possible.

The CNA program typically requires 100 hours of training, including clinical practice.

The Phlebotomy Technician program requires about 120 hours of combined classroom and clinical work.

The Medical Administrative Assistant program requires approximately 150 hours of instruction.

All three programs lead to credentials that are portable across Texas and most other states.

The grant represents a significant investment in the Coastal Bend's economic development.

Healthcare is one of the largest employment sectors in the region.

Hospitals and clinics in Corpus Christi, Rockport, Portland, Kingsville and surrounding communities have reported difficulty filling these positions.