FORT WORTH, Texas — Tarrant County College has received a $25,000 Educational Partnership Program grant from the Embraer Foundation to support aviation maintenance students training at TCC’s Northwest Center of Excellence for Aviation, Transportation and Logistics (CEATL) next to the Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport.
The funding will enhance training and resources in the College’s Aviation Maintenance Technology program. Cynthia Boyd, TCC Foundation advisor to the chancellor, said the grant will cover the cost of the written, oral and practical exams required for Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certification — a critical step toward licensure that often poses a financial barrier for otherwise qualified students.
Chancellor Elva LeBlanc: “This partnership with Embraer and the Embraer Foundation reflects a shared commitment to workforce readiness and innovation in aviation education. We’re proud to support Embraer’s growth and strengthen the region’s aviation workforce.”
Embraer’s new maintenance, repair and overhaul facility at Alliance Airport, expected to be completed by late 2026, will employ 500 aviation mechanics. To meet this need, Embraer already is recruiting TCC students and graduates.
“At Tarrant County College we’re committed to our graduates being not only work ready but world ready. They have the skills, confidence and curiosity to lead in an ever-changing world,” said TCC Northwest President Zarina Blankenbaker. “When we educate one student, we uplift entire families and strengthen our local economy.
“That is why this $25,000 gift from Embraer is so meaningful. It is more than a financial contribution — it is an investment in human potential and in an industry that connects the world.”
To learn more about TCC’s aviation programs, visit www.tccd.edu.
Celebrating 60 years of excellence and impact in 2025, Tarrant County College is one of the nation’s largest higher education institutions and offers the second-lowest tuition among Texas’ top 10 community colleges. With six campuses across Tarrant County, TCC provides accessible, high-quality learning opportunities for students of all ages and backgrounds.