STC receives million-dollar federal grant for academic program, health care center

EDINBURG, Texas – South Texas College President Ricardo J. Solis says his institution is determined to build a future-ready health care workforce for the Rio Grande Valley.

Solis was thrilled to announce that STC has secured a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to expand health care offerings.

“With this initiative, together with our partners, we commit to empower non-traditional learners and reskill health care workers in our communities,” Solis said. 

“This is an investment in education and sets the groundwork for a healthier, more resilient future for the residents of McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley.”

The DOL grant will cover the next three years, through June 30, 2027.

Jayson T. Valerio, the dean of nursing and allied health for STC, said the grant will help the college develop and offer an Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene program and microcredential courses targeting high-demand health care skills.

The grant will also address the acute shortage of health care professionals in the Rio Grande Valley, Valerio explained.

It will do this by establishing a Workforce Development and Continuing Education Center for Health Care Professionals (WDCECHP), which will be housed at the STC Regional Workforce Development Health Care Center. 

“We are thrilled about this award, which further enables us to provide essential education and training to a diverse learner base as we aim to nurture a health care workforce that is equipped to address the evolving health care needs of our community, particularly in response to recent health care crises,” Valerio said. 

“We are grateful to the U.S. Department of Labor for this opportunity and to our key partners for making this initiative possible.”

The initiative is a collaboration between STC, South Texas Health System Inc., the Lower Rio Grande Valley Workforce Development Board (Workforce Solutions- Regional Healthcare Task Force), McAllen Economic Development Corporation, Hidalgo County – Prosperity (Health) Taskforce and the Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement (VIDA).

According to an STC press release, the Department of Labor grant “specifically aims to serve non-traditional learners and incumbent workers” in McAllen and the broader Rio Grande Valley “by engaging marginalized or underrepresented groups in educational programs and fostering inclusive programs and collaborative partnerships with community organizations.”

Photo courtesy: South Texas College

Valerio said the DOL grant will also allow STC to offer training that addresses post-pandemic health care challenges, including mental health support and technological advancements, foster inclusive programs and partnerships with community organizations, work with other educational institutions, health care facilities and community stakeholders and establish training and recruitment channels that focus on quality, diversity and adaptability.

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