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 and expand the state's capacity to respond to workforce training needs;
   2. (2) to develop projects in local workforce development areas through collaboration with the Boards;
   3. (3) to develop projects that at completion of the training will result in wages equal to or greater than the prevailing wage of persons with similar knowledge and experience in that occupation in the local labor market for the participants in the customized training project;
   4. (4) to prioritize the processing of grant requests from local workforce development areas where the unemployment rate is higher than the state's annual average unemployment rate;
   5. (5) to sponsor creation and attraction of high value, high skill jobs for the state that will facilitate the growth of industry and emerging occupations.
2. (b) In processing requests referenced in subsection (a)(4) of this section, the Director, or his or her designee, shall give priority in processing to grant requests from local workforce development 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.

Source Note:The provisions of this §803.13 adopted to be effective January 29, 2003, 28 TexReg 751.