East Texas Tri-Agency Initiative

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Building a Stronger East Texas Workforce

In 2016, Governor Greg Abbott established the Texas Tri-Agency Network, with the goal of preparing the Texas workforce for the future. The Tri-Agency Network relies on Regional Conveners to create and implement the program and infrastructure needed to thrive locally. As the East Texas Regional Convener, the TABEC helps private industry and public educators work together to provide East Texas students with better and more numerous pathways to high-paying careers.
Through this effort, we are able to prepare the entire state to meet the future needs of Texas businesses.

Vision

To build an East Texas workforce that is prepared to meet future business challenges via college preparedness, strong career pathways, and student support.

Mission

The Tri-Agency Network’s stated goal is “to support efficient and flexible pathways to earning degrees, certificates, and other credentials linked to high-wage, in-demand jobs.”

How the East Texas Tri-Agency Initiative Works

Governor Greg Abbott established the Tri-Agency Workforce Initiative in March 2016. The Tri-Agency Workforce Initiative tasks the Commissioners and designated staff of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), and the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to work together to develop strong links between education and industry. The Tri-Agency aims to provide all Texans with access to high-quality education and workforce training that empowers them to achieve their full potential and help Texas grow in economic prosperity.

In April 2023, the Tri-Agency launched a $12 million dollar grant program focused on identifying, training, and designating a Tri-Agency Regional Convener in each of the state’s 28 workforce development areas to develop a regional pathways system that will support the Tri-Agency mission, priorities, goals, and strategies. The Tri-Agency leveraged existing structures, such as regional workforce development boards, education service centers, institutions of higher education, and nonprofits with a regional scope of work to serve as a regional convener. Conveners are tasked with building infrastructure and demonstrating their proficiency across four leadership domains for the region that include alignment, data, communications, and work-based learning.

The Tyler Area Business Education Council (TABEC) serves as the regional convener for the East Texas Workforce Development Area. The TABEC Board of Directors serves as the Pathways Leadership Team. The team is comprised of leaders and subject-matter experts from the Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Council, employers, institutions of higher education, school districts, Education Service Center, Workforce Development Board, and community-based organizations to ensure regional pathways are comprehensive and meet the needs of all stakeholders. With the support of the Tri-Agency Regional Conveners Grant resources, the Council has been able to develop and expand infrastructure to support pathways work.

The East Texas Tri-Agency Initiative (ETTAI) supports the states Tri-Agency mission to build a strong Texas workforce and ensure that East Texans are prepared for jobs in the industries that power the state’s economy today and tomorrow. In addition to sharing the states’ vision that East Texans of all ages should have access to high-quality education, ETTAI also supports workforce training that empowers them to achieve their full potential. Texas Tri-Agency’s key priorities to advance economic growth and prosperity are:

Supporting Pathways

Support efficient and flexible pathways to earning degrees, certificates, and other credentials linked to high-wage, in-demand jobs.

Building Infrastructure

Create a robust infrastructure for interagency collaboration around common goals, data, and processes to ensure improved student outcomes that meet employers' needs.