Harris County residents have filed more than 600,000 unemployment insurance claims since March, and a new joint program from the county and Lone Star College is providing free training for in-demand careers.
The initiative is funded by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. Participants must be residents of Harris County who have been furloughed, unemployed or underemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, officials said. Tuition is free, and funding for books and other costs are available as well.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for citizens of Harris County who have been impacted by COVID-19,” said Linda Leto Head, the senior associate vice chancellor of the LSC Office of External and Employer Relations, in a statement. “Lone Star College is offering 17 different workforce programs for people to trained before the end of the year.”

Eligible programs include:
  • Accounting and Bookkeeping Program - Bilingual
  • Accounting and Bookkeeping Program - English
  • Alternative Teacher Certification
  • Carpentry I NCCER
  • Certified Nurse Aid
  • Cisco, CCNA
  • CNC Machining (NIMS)
  • Construction Helper, Basic
  • COVID19 Contact Tracer
  • HVAC I NCCER
  • Leading as a new Supervisor
  • Logistics Professional
  • Manufacturing Technician/Mechatronics
  • Phlebotomy: ASPT Certificate
  • Plumbing I NCCER
  • Sterile Processing Technician
  • Welding
Training must be completed by Dec. 31, so those interested should apply as soon as possible, Head said. For information, call 832-813-6884 or email [email protected].
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