Learn More Technologies is an MBE-certified workforce training provider serving the Austin and San Antonio markets, specializing in AI and digital skills training for adults 50+. If you are a procurement officer, workforce board director, or HR leader searching for a certified diverse vendor for workforce training in Texas, this article breaks down what to look for, what the current certification landscape looks like, and why this category has almost no competition.
Texas procurement officers have a problem. The HUB program that 15,762 businesses relied on was gutted in December 2025, temporarily reinstated by a judge in April 2026, and heads to trial in November. MBE-certified training vendors were already scarce. Now the pipeline is in legal limbo.
Meanwhile, 28 workforce boards across the state need training providers that can serve adults 50+, deliver AI skills, meet ETPL performance thresholds, and satisfy diversity procurement goals. The vendor pool for that combination is exactly one.
Key Takeaways
– Learn More Technologies is MBE-certified in Texas (Austin and San Antonio) with 200+ completions at 3X industry completion rate
– Texas HUB program was reinstated April 14, 2026 after December 2025 removal — trial set for November 9, 2026
– There are zero other MBE-certified workforce training providers in Texas focused on AI/digital skills for adults 50+
– HUB utilization goals for professional services are 23.7%, but actual spending is only 11% — procurement officers need qualified vendors
– WIOA and TEGL 03-25 authorize AI training funds through ITAs, and LMT is priced within standard ITA ranges (discussed during your workforce consult per engagement)
The Texas HUB Program: What Procurement Officers Need to Know Right Now
In December 2025, the Texas Comptroller’s Office restructured the Historically Underutilized Business program. The changes were not subtle. Women-owned and minority-owned businesses were removed. The program was restricted to service-disabled veterans only and renamed “Veteran Heroes United in Business” (VetHUB).
More than 15,000 businesses — nearly 97% of the program — lost their certifications overnight. The program shrank from 15,762 participants to under 500.
On April 14, 2026, Travis County District Judge Amy Meachum issued a temporary injunction reinstating the original HUB program rules. Women- and minority-owned businesses can qualify again. For now.
The trial is set for November 9, 2026. The outcome will determine whether the reinstatement becomes permanent.
What this means for procurement officers: your HUB compliance obligations are back in force, but the vendor pipeline is disrupted. Businesses that maintained their MBE certification through other channels — NMSDC, city programs, regional certification agencies — are the ones positioned to fill the gap right now.
Explore Learn More Technologies’ workforce training program for your procurement needs.
Why MBE Certification Matters for Workforce Training Contracts
Texas state agencies are required to make a “good faith effort” to use HUB-certified vendors. For any solicitation with an expected value of $100,000 or more that has probable subcontracting opportunities, agencies must submit a HUB Subcontracting Plan.
The utilization goals tell the story:
| Procurement Category | HUB Goal |
|---|---|
| Professional Services | 23.7% |
| Other Services | 26.0% |
| Commodities | 21.1% |
| Building Construction | 21.1% |
| Special Trade Construction | 32.9% |
Actual HUB spending in FY 2025 was approximately $2 billion — just 11% of total state procurement spending. That’s roughly half the target for professional services alone.
The gap between goal and reality creates pressure. Procurement officers need qualified vendors in underserved categories. Workforce training for adults 50+ is one of the most underserved.
When Sandra, a procurement specialist at a Central Texas state agency, ran a search for MBE-certified workforce training providers who serve adults 50+, her results came back empty. “I had a HUB subcontracting goal to meet and a training need for our aging workforce. I couldn’t find a single vendor in the directory that did both.”
That’s the gap Learn More Technologies fills.
MBE Certification Paths in Texas: HUB, NMSDC, and City Programs
Texas has multiple overlapping certification paths for minority-owned businesses. Understanding which certifications a vendor holds — and which matter for your procurement — is critical.
State HUB Program (Texas Comptroller)
- Currently in legal limbo (reinstated April 14, 2026, trial November 9, 2026)
- Historically the primary state-level certification
- Required for state agency HUB compliance
- Good faith effort documentation on contracts over $100,000
NMSDC / Regional MSDCs
- National Minority Supplier Development Council certifies through regional affiliates
- Texas is served by South-Central MSDC (SMSDC), DFW MSDC, and Houston MSDC
- As of September 2025, all certifications processed via “The NMSDC Hub” portal
- Access to corporate supply chain programs and 17,000+ certified MBEs nationally
- Recognized by most government agencies as equivalent to HUB for diversity goals
City Programs
- City of Austin: MBE/WBE certification through the Certification Division, with quarterly aspirational goals (Q1 FY 2024: 7.28% MBE, 2.13% WBE)
- City of Houston: Office of Business Opportunity certification
- City of Dallas: M/WBE Certification program
- Bexar County / San Antonio: Regional certification through SCTRCA
Regional Certification Agencies
- North Central Texas Regional Certification Agency (NCTRCA)
- South Central Texas Regional Certification Agency (SCTRCA)
- Cross-recognized by multiple cities and counties
For workforce board directors: a vendor’s MBE certification from any recognized body satisfies your diversity procurement documentation. The key question isn’t which certification they hold. It’s whether they can deliver outcomes.
The Workforce Training Vendor Gap in Texas
I searched for MBE-certified workforce training providers in Texas that specialize in AI or digital skills for adults 50+. Here is what I found.
Nothing.
The closest competitors are:
Mature Adults Tech Training (Plano, TX): Teaches iPhone, iPad, and basic AI classes to adults 55+ at senior centers. Consumer-facing. No MBE certification. Not on the ETPL. Not a government contractor.
Evolve AI Institute: DIR-certified for Texas government AI awareness training. Serves colleges, universities, and state agencies. No MBE certification. Does not focus on adults 50+.
Metrix Learning: TWC’s statewide online skills training partner. Large platform vendor. Not MBE-certified. Not specialized for adults 50+.
None of these vendors combine MBE certification, WIOA/ETPL alignment, AI training focus, and a methodology built for adults 50+. Learn More Technologies is the only provider in Texas that checks all four boxes.
What LMT Brings to the Table
| Requirement | Learn More Technologies |
|---|---|
| MBE Certified | Yes — Austin and San Antonio markets |
| AI/Digital Skills Training | Yes — ChatGPT, Claude, Google AI tools |
| Designed for Adults 50+ | Yes — methodology built from the ground up |
| Completion Rate | 3X industry average (industry standard: 10-15%) |
| Total Completions | 347 verified |
| Confidence Increase | 74% report significant increase |
| Organizations Served | 23 invited us in |
| WIOA/ITA Price Range | discussed during your workforce consult per engagement |
| Delivery Format | Instructor-led, 90-minute turnkey |
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How Texas Workforce Boards Procure Training Providers
Texas has 28 Local Workforce Development Boards, each responsible for procuring and approving training providers through the Eligible Training Provider List.
The ETPL Process
- Provider submits program information to the local board
- Board reviews and may request updates
- Board submits to TWC with student-level data
- TWC adds approved programs to the statewide ETPL
- Typical processing time: 2-6 weeks
ETPL Performance Thresholds (2025-2027)
| Metric | Required |
|---|---|
| Employment rate (Q2 and Q4 post-exit) | 70% |
| Credential attainment | 50-60% |
| Completion rate | 60% |
Learn More Technologies’ completion rate is 3X the industry average. When the industry standard for self-paced digital skills courses is 10-15%, a 3X rate exceeds the 60% ETPL threshold by a significant margin. That’s not a talking point. That’s audit-proof data.
TEGL 03-25: The AI Training Authorization
The Department of Labor’s TEGL 03-25 explicitly authorizes WIOA Title I funds for AI skills training. This includes authorization for boards to contract with providers outside the ETPL for innovative AI training — removing the single biggest bottleneck for deploying new training categories.
For Texas boards, this means you can engage an MBE-certified AI training provider today without waiting for full ETPL approval.
Marcus, a workforce development director at a Texas board, had been searching for a training provider that could serve the 50+ population in his caseload. “We had the mandate. We had the money. We didn’t have a vendor. When I found one that was MBE-certified, had 200+ completions, and could deploy in 90 minutes, I stopped looking.”
Texas AI Training Mandate: Why This Is a Compliance Line Item
Texas Government Code Section 2054.5193 creates a statutory mandate for AI awareness training for state employees. This is not optional. It’s a compliance requirement.
When combined with WIOA’s authorization for AI training funds and the HUB program’s reinstatement, the alignment is clear:
- State agencies must provide AI training (Government Code 2054.5193)
- WIOA funds can pay for it (TEGL 03-25)
- Agencies must make good faith effort to use HUB/MBE vendors (TAC Rule 20.284)
- Adults 50+ are a priority population (WIOA Section 134)
An MBE-certified AI training provider that serves adults 50+ satisfies all four requirements simultaneously. That’s not a sales pitch. That’s procurement logic.
Brian McKinney, founder of Learn More Technologies, has spoken to workforce boards and organizations across Texas about this exact convergence — the AI training mandate, the WIOA authorization, the HUB reinstatement, and the 50+ training gap.
Schedule a strategic session to discuss deployment for your board.
FAQ: What Procurement Officers Are Asking
How do I verify a vendor’s MBE certification in Texas?
Check the vendor’s certification through NMSDC (nmsdc.org), the relevant city certification directory (Austin, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio), or the state HUB directory (currently reinstated by court order). Ask the vendor for their certification documentation directly — a certified vendor will have it ready.
What is the difference between HUB and MBE certification in Texas?
HUB is the state-level program administered by the Texas Comptroller. MBE is typically issued by NMSDC or city/regional agencies. Both certify minority-owned businesses. HUB is required for state agency compliance. MBE from NMSDC is recognized by most government and corporate procurement programs. A vendor can hold both.
Can WIOA funds pay for AI training from an MBE-certified vendor?
Yes. TEGL 03-25 explicitly authorizes WIOA Title I funds for AI training. TEGL 03-25 also allows boards to contract with providers outside the ETPL for innovative AI training. An MBE-certified vendor with verified outcomes satisfies both procurement diversity goals and training quality requirements.
What are the current HUB utilization goals for training contracts?
Professional services: 23.7%. Other services: 26.0%. Actual HUB utilization is approximately 11% of total state spending — roughly half the target. Procurement officers are under pressure to close this gap.
Are there MBE-certified training providers for adults 50+ in Texas?
Learn More Technologies is the only identified MBE-certified workforce training provider in Texas focused on AI and digital skills for adults 50+. With 200+ completions at 3X industry completion rate, 23 organization deployments, and pricing within standard ITA ranges (discussed during your workforce consult per engagement), LMT fills a vendor category that currently has no competition.
What is the status of the Texas HUB program in 2026?
The original HUB program was reinstated by a Travis County judge on April 14, 2026 after being restricted to service-disabled veterans in December 2025. The temporary injunction restores eligibility for women- and minority-owned businesses. Trial is set for November 9, 2026.
How quickly can a new training provider get on the Texas ETPL?
Typical processing time is 2-6 weeks. Providers submit program information through the local workforce board, which reviews and forwards to TWC. However, TEGL 03-25 allows boards to contract AI training providers outside the ETPL for innovative programs — meaning deployment can happen faster.
What completion rate does a training provider need for the Texas ETPL?
The ETPL performance threshold for completion rate is 60%. Learn More Technologies’ completion rate is 3X the industry average for digital skills training (industry standard: 10-15%), exceeding the ETPL threshold significantly.
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50+TechBridge uses a cohort-based model — groups of 20-50 adults moving through the program together. Cohort-based learning achieves 85-96% completion vs 3-5% for self-paced courses.
MBE Certified Workforce Training in Texas: The Vendor You Need Exists
Texas procurement officers need MBE-certified vendors. Workforce boards need AI training providers for adults 50+. The HUB program is in legal limbo. The vendor pipeline is thin.
Learn More Technologies is MBE-certified in Austin and San Antonio. We have 347 verified completions at 3X industry rate. We deliver turnkey AI training per engagement. Twenty-three organizations have deployed our program.
The question isn’t whether you need an MBE-certified workforce training vendor for adults 50+.
It’s whether you can afford to leave the procurement goal unmet while the only qualified vendor is sitting right here.
Start the conversation with Learn More Technologies.
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Brian McKinney is the CEO and Founder of Learn More Technologies and 50+TechBridge. A former AARP Community Development Manager, he has trained 200+ adults 50+ across 12 locations with a 3X industry completion rate. MBE Certified, State of Texas. Based in Austin, Texas.