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Beyond Federal Dollars: How State and Local Funding Powers Workforce Growth
January 2, 2026 | Victoria Hawkins, Global Electronics AssociationEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Employers in the electronics sector face constant pressure to secure skilled talent. For years, federal funding has been the primary driver of workforce development initiatives. Yet, with federal dollars increasingly constrained, the most impactful opportunities are now being found at the state and local levels.
As director of workforce grants and funding at the Global Electronics Association, I identify and secure resources that help employers strengthen their talent pipelines through upskilling, apprenticeship, and workforce development. Today, it’s clearer than ever that state and local programs present some of the more powerful and timely opportunities: flexible solutions that employers can leverage right now to meet pressing workforce needs.
Spotlight on Texas: DETEX Corporation
This spring, DETEX Corporation was awarded a Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Apprenticeship Critical Skills Initiative Grant to expand training capacity. With this funding, DETEX is investing in Registered Apprenticeships, IPC Certified Trainer (CIT) training, and solder certification instruction.
“This grant has allowed us to upskill both current and future employees with the critical technical skills needed in our industry,” says Martha Rodriguez, HR manager at DETEX. “By building a strong, skilled workforce and preparing team members for advancement, we boost morale and retention. Employees see long-term career paths here, and that makes a difference.”
The program’s success lies in strong community partnerships. DETEX recently collaborated with Texas State Technical College (TSTC), Skillpoint Alliance, local high schools, the Global Electronics Association, and its local Chamber of Commerce to provide essential training. Together, these partners are sustaining a pipeline of talent that not only benefits DETEX but also strengthens the entire New Braunfels community.
Continue reading this article in the Fall 2025 issue of Community Magazine.
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09/04/2024 | Michelle Te, IPC CommunityIPC member DETEX Corporation of New Braunfels, Texas, like so many similar companies, strives to cultivate a highly skilled workforce to meet the growing demand for electronics assembly professionals. But also like many companies, DETEX, which engineers and manufactures security products, has struggled to hire qualified workers. Most employees are hired without certification or experience. Providing on-the-job training (OJT) without technical instruction has been met with limited success.