Austin Community College, city partnering for infrastructure academy to train skilled workforce
"We need to change our economic development model so that we focus on getting Austinites into these great career paths," Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said. The Austin Community College (ACC) and the city of Austin are partnering to create an infrastructure academy to train the workforce. The academy aims to train and create workers for new projects in Austin, where billions of dollars are being invested in transportation infrastructure. The goal is to train those who will complete these projects and create a new career, not just to get a job. The college plans to operate the academy out of its new Del Valle location once it is completed. The academies will also include a child care component to help remove barriers for parents who haven't been able to obtain their education.
Publicados : um mês atrás por Eric Pointer no Finance
"We need to change our economic development model so that we focus on getting Austinites into these great career paths," Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said.
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AUSTIN, Texas — As Austin continues to grow, so does the need for workers. That's why the Austin Community College (ACC), city of Austin and others are partnering to create an infrastructure academy to provide training to the workforce.
ACC said it plans to operate the infrastructure academy out of its new Del Valle location once it's built – but it can't wait for that campus to be finished, so it's kicking things off at its Riverside campus, where there is already a foundation of classes.
ACC chancellors say this will give them a jumpstart on being the front door for this community-wide endeavor.
"We're going to use this campus, our Riverside campus, one of my favorite campuses," Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart said. "I love the communal feel. I love that this is a neighborhood and a campus that takes care of each other. And I think it's the perfect place to launch the infrastructure academy."
Billions of dollars are being invested into the transportation infrastructure of Austin and surrounding areas, for new projects like the Interstate 35 expansion, airport expansion and various projects associated with Project Connect.
The infrastructure academy's goal isn't just to create and train the thousands of workers it will take to complete these projects, but also to put those workers in a position to create a new career – not just get a job.
"We need to change our economic development model so that we focus on getting Austinites into these great career paths," Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said. "And people that otherwise may not have a 4-year degree can still participate and afford to live in Austin, Texas."
The academy will also have a child care component to help remove barriers for parents who haven't been able to get their education.
ACC is also working with unions to create direct pipelines for students to get into apprenticeship programs and earn while they learn, all while creating a network for students to be promoted into full-time positions when they finish school.
Tópicos: Academia, Economy