1. (a) The following are the program objectives in administering the Skills Development Fund:

   1. (1) to ensure that funds from the program are spent in all areas of this state;
   2. (2) to develop projects that will create jobs in local workforce development areas (workforce areas) where the unemployment rate is above the state's annual average unemployment rate;
   3. (3) to prioritize the processing of grant requests from workforce areas where the unemployment rate is higher than the state's annual average unemployment rate;
   4. (4) to respond to the training needs of consortiums consisting of at least two micro-, small or medium-sized businesses;
   5. (5) to facilitate projects eligible for the Self-Sufficiency Fund, by working with employers and training organizations to provide training for targeted employment for recipients of Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF formerly referred to as Aid For Dependent Children AFDC) and to facilitate other projects which assist in the employment of former welfare recipients;
   6. (6) to sponsor pilot programs in allied health professions for certain recipients of financial assistance under Human Resources Code, Chapter 31;
   7. (7) to develop projects that at completion of the training will result in wages greater than the prevailing wage for that occupation in the local labor market for the participants in the customized training program;
   8. (8) to develop projects that at the completion of training will result in employment benefits, including medical insurance, for the participants in the customized training program;
   9. (9) to facilitate the growth of industry and emerging occupations;
   10. (10) to sponsor creation and attraction of high value, high skill jobs for the state;
   11. (11) to ensure retention of jobs by providing retraining in response to new or changing technology;
   12. (12) to develop projects which include contributions from other resources, including the private partners, that are being committed to the customized training program; and
   13. (13) to ensure expansion of the state's capacity to respond to workforce training needs.
2. (b) In processing requests referenced in paragraph (3) of subsection (a), the director shall give priority in processing to grant requests from workforce areas where the unemployment rate is higher than the state's annual average unemployment rate. Notwithstanding the priority in processing, the other objectives within this section apply.
3. (c) The priority referenced in paragraph (4) of subsection (a) shall be for micro-businesses which employ not more than 20 employees as defined under Government Code, Section 481.151, small businesses that have fewer than 100 employees or less than $1 million in annual gross receipts as defined under Government Code, Section 481.101(3), and medium-sized businesses which employ not more than 500 employees.

Source Note:The provisions of this §803.13 adopted to be effective October 6, 1997, 22 TexReg 9695; amended to be effective January 27, 1999, 24 TexReg 419.