Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area Awarded Workforce Innovation Fund Grant to Help Skilled Trades Professionals Become Entrepreneurs
Dec 12, 2025
Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area
CEDAR PARK, Texas – Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area (WSRCA) was honored at the 28th Annual Texas Workforce Conference with a Workforce Innovation Fund Grant from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). The $225,000 grant award supports WSRCA’s new initiative, From Trade to Entrepreneur: Building Small Business Success in Skilled Trades, which will help skilled trades professionals transition into successful small business owners.
The grant recognizes WSRCA’s leadership in advancing forward thinking solutions that strengthen the state’s workforce and expand economic opportunity.
“We are grateful to TWC for recognizing the importance of this work and investing in the future of our skilled trades,” said Paul Fletcher, CEO of WSRCA. “This initiative creates a pathway for talented trades professionals to become employers, expand services in our region, and build businesses that support the long-term growth of Central Texas.”
Helping Trades Professionals Build and Grow Their Own Companies
The initiative is being delivered in partnership with SCORE Austin and provides a comprehensive and accessible entrepreneurship pathway for electricians, HVAC technicians, welders, mechanics, construction professionals, and other trades workers.
Program components include:
- A one-day Launch Conference introducing the fundamentals of business ownership
- A 12-week Entrepreneurship Training Series covering business planning, financial projections, marketing, legal structures, and operations
- Individual mentorship and coaching from experienced SCORE business mentors
- Earn and learn opportunities that allow emerging businesses to take on paid trainees as they grow
- A business plan and pitch showcase to connect new entrepreneurs with community partners and resources
By combining technical expertise with business development support, the initiative helps participants turn their trade skills into sustainable enterprises.
Expanding Opportunity and Strengthening the Regional Economy
WSRCA anticipates that 75 trades professionals will join the kickoff event, with 40 entering the 12-week training series and at least 25 new small businesses launched in the program’s first year. More than 50 new jobs are expected to be created as these businesses begin to grow.
“Central Texas continues to see rising demand for skilled trades across infrastructure, construction, and service industries,” Fletcher added. “This initiative supports those who are ready to take the next step in their careers and build the businesses that will power our region’s future.”
For more information about Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area and its mission, visit www.workforcesolutionsrca.com.
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About Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area
Workforce Solutions Rural Capital (WSRCA) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) community partnership and the certified workforce authority for the nine-county Rural Capital Area of Central Texas, which includes Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lee, Llano, and Williamson counties. WSRCA strengthens regional prosperity by connecting people, employers, and opportunities through no-cost services such as career coaching, training in high-demand fields, child care tuition scholarships, hiring events, and labor market insights. By equipping residents with skills for career success and providing employers with tailored workforce solutions, WSRCA helps ensure the region remains competitive, resilient, and ready for growth.
