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Texas is the Best State for Business. We’re the nation’s top job creator and the number one destination for corporate headquarters relocations. No one does business like Texas – and everyone wants to be here.

Rapid population growth means greater demand for housing. Expanding industries, like data centers, require ample water resources for cooling. And every sector relies on our world-class manufacturing and transportation companies to keep the supply chain running efficiently.

A huge driver of our appeal is our people. We have a highly educated, highly skilled workforce that employers across the country envy. But in a state this large, with a booming population and corporate footprint, we must make serious investments in our human capital to ensure we have the workers needed to sustain our economic growth, now and in the future.

Skilled trade industries across the state are already feeling the pinch. A 2025 Texas Workforce Survey by the Associated General Contractors of America found 76% of construction firms are experiencing extreme difficulty filling open positions. In translation: Texas is struggling to find enough builders to meet the demand for homes or businesses. This issue doesn’t stop at construction and presents a statewide challenge. More than 60% of jobs in Texas require some postsecondary education or training. We have to think strategically about how to help Texans access the education they need to upskill, reskill, and become certified in high-demand careers.  

One viable solution on the table is Proposition 1, which will be on the November 4 ballot. Proposition 1 would invest $850 million from the state’s general revenue to fund job-training programs and expansion projects at Texas State Technical College (TSTC). TSTC is one of the state’s leading producers of skilled workers. This is a win not just for employers — but for taxpayers and hardworking Texas families who stand to benefit from good-paying, stable jobs.

TSTC has campuses across the state that prepare students for high-demand fields like construction, manufacturing, robotics, cybersecurity, nursing, and more. Courses are designed with industry partners and taught with real-world tools, ensuring graduates are job-ready on day one. And unlike other colleges, TSTC’s state funding depends on outcomes — graduates securing good jobs. That means accountability to students, taxpayers, and employers alike.

Taxpayers can also take pride in TSTC’s Money-Back Guarantee: if graduates don’t find employment, they get their tuition back. You won’t find a better return on investment than that.

Importantly, Proposition 1 won’t raise taxes. It leverages existing state revenue to expand facilities, acquire land, and purchase modern equipment, providing long-term benefits for Texans and the industries that power our economy.

The job-training programs at TSTC have already delivered results — equipping employers with skilled talent and putting Texans on the path to stable, good-paying careers. Proposition 1 is a smart, targeted investment in our workforce that will strengthen Texas’s competitive edge for years to come. The Texas Association of Business and other leading business groups strongly support the effort.

– Glenn Hamer, President & CEO, Texas Association of Business

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