PASADENA, Texas - San Jacinto College, NASA-Johnson Space Center, the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) and members of the Aerospace Workforce Innovation Network (AWIN) celebrated a grant award and cooperative agreement at a special ceremony on Thursday, November 8, at Space Center Houston.

The grant from the TWC, worth over $1.452 million, has been awarded to the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership (BAHEP), through the TWC “Meeting Industries' Critical Workforce Needs - Aerospace” program.  The funds will be used by several educational partners in the Houston area under the guidance of the San Jacinto College Aerospace & Biotechnology Academy, and will assist the transitioning aerospace industry.

"We appreciate the Texas Workforce Commission, its recognition of the importance of the Johnson Space Center-area aerospace industry to the local and state economy, and this investment in its workforce revitalization,” noted Dr. Marie Dalton, Executive Vice President of the San Jacinto College Aerospace & Biotechnology Academy.

The Houston aerospace industry, which will play a critical role in actualizing America's new Vision for Space Exploration, is faced with exciting opportunities impacting workforce needs.  Dramatically expanded responsibilities of the Johnson Space Center (JSC) and its contractors include program management for Constellation (America's newest space program), overall project management and integration of the Crew Exploration Vehicle (Orion), flight operations support of the Crew Launch Vehicle, project management of mission operations and crew training, and commercial orbital transportation services.

The AWIN project will enable local colleges and universities to help prepare and transition the region's current and potential workforce for Constellation's rigorous objectives and future challenges in the industry, and will lead to increased technical expertise and competitiveness of the regional aerospace workforce.

AWIN partners include Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership, in collaboration with the San Jacinto College Aerospace & Biotechnology Academy; College of the Mainland; University of Houston - Clear Lake; University of Houston - College of Engineering; University of Houston - College of Technology; NASA-Johnson Space Center and Contractors; Space Center Houston; and Houston-Galveston Area Council / WorkSource.  During the two-year AWIN project, partners will develop aerospace-supportive programs and courses at their institutions and will work with regional high schools to help grow the science, technology, engineering and math workforce.

“We are very pleased about this award, as it adds to ongoing activities by the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership and its educational partners to help maintain a strong aerospace industry in the community and boost the local economy,” said Bob Mitchell, Executive Director of BAHEP.

In addition to the recognition of the TWC grant, San Jacinto College is also the recipient of a cooperative agreement from the NASA-Johnson Space Center, called the Strategic Education Alliance (SEA).  Under this five-year agreement, the San Jacinto College Aerospace & Biotechnology Academy will provide assistance to JSC in managing several significant educational initiatives at JSC.  These include the Texas Aerospace Scholars Program, Reduced Gravity Flight Programs, Education Information Technology, Higher Education Activities, and Minority University Research and Education Program.  Joining San Jacinto College in implementation of this contract is subcontractor Universities Space Research Association.

“We are excited about the opportunity to continue working with the Johnson Space Center and assisting the growth of the science, technology, engineering and mathematics workforce,” noted Dalton.

Since 2001, the San Jacinto College Aerospace & Biotechnology Academy has secured over $16.5 million in grants and cooperative agreements.  Under these grants, the Academy has trained over 11,000 aerospace employees for more than 50 employers.