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Bastrop EDC approves $25,000 agreement with Community Action Inc. to support adult education and workforce training
Summary
The Bastrop Economic Development Corporation approved a $25,000 professional services agreement with Community Action Inc. of Central Texas after a presentation describing GED, ESL and career-training programs that served hundreds of county residents last year.
The Bastrop Economic Development Corporation on Feb. 24 approved a professional services agreement with Community Action Inc. of Central Texas, committing $25,000 to support adult education and workforce-training programs in Bastrop County.
Community Action representative Jackie Banks told the BEDC board that the nonprofit “has served over 600 students in the past year with over 15,000 hours” of instruction and training, and that students progress from ESL and GED classes into career training such as EMT, security guard, bookkeeping and phlebotomy courses. She said the organization added classes last year and is integrating digital literacy across programs.
The presentation included two students who described outcomes: Patricia Lewis, a former student who said, “I received my GED in 2021 … I went back to school with Hartwell University, and I am currently working on my bachelor’s of science to become a teacher,” and Sarah Allen, who described entering the EMT training pathway and receiving awards for life‑saving care.
Why it matters: BEDC board members said the training helps expand the local workforce. During discussion before the vote, BEDC counsel noted statutory constraints the board must consider when funding workforce programs and recommended including findings in the resolution tying the grant to economic development purposes.
The board then moved and approved the resolution (R2025‑0004) authorizing the professional services agreement and the $25,000 allocation that had been included in the BEDC budget for the year.
Votes at a glance
- Resolution R2025‑0004 — Approve professional services agreement with Community Action Inc. of Central Texas for workforce/adult education programs; budgeted amount $25,000. Motion and second not identified on the record; outcome recorded as approved. - Approval of meeting minutes (joint meeting with City Council and regular BEDC meeting on 01/27/2025). Motion and second not identified on the record; outcome approved. - Action to forward updated BEDC policy to Bastrop City Council for approval (board "blessed" the updated policy and directed staff to send it to council). Motion and second not identified on the record; outcome approved.
Board members and staff present asked for more demographic detail about how many participants live inside the City of Bastrop; Community Action said it could provide numbers by registration address or by plotting addresses on a map. Board members asked staff to work with Community Action to segment the program participants by city limits for future reporting.
The board took the action after hearing program details and two student testimonials; no conditions were attached to the approved agreement in the meeting record.
The BEDC entered executive session earlier in the meeting under Texas Government Code, section 551.071 and other sections; the board reported no actions out of that executive session after returning to open session.
