Austin-based Green Integrated Services LLC and Texas Business & Education Coalition have received a $2.5 million stimulus grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop a smart grid workforce training program.

The DOE grant is the largest workforce grant awarded in Texas. It was awarded to the University of Houston-led Smart Grid Energy Training Coalition, which consists of Green Integrated Services in partnership with the Texas Business & Education Coalition, Skillsnet, CenterPoint Energy, San Jacinto College and the Power Technology Institute, officials said.

GIS is expected to build the smart grid talent pipeline for Texas. The initial phase is the establishment of an online community to connect ready and future workers from diverse industries with training programs to develop the skills necessary to fill the talent needs of the rapidly growing smart grid industry, officials said.

The grant will also fund a training program, from basic entry-level training to the specialized skills needed to manage the technology infrastructure. It is designed to train line mechanics, engineers, cyber security specialists, transmission and distribution system operators, dispatchers and communication network specialists.