For generations, west Texas has been at the forefront of U.S. energy exploration. Now, opportunities in a new industry, artificial intelligence (AI) and the data centers needed to support it, are coming to the region.
To ensure residents are prepared for jobs in this emerging field, Education Design Lab, SkillUp Coalition, and the Charles Koch Foundation (CKF) have teamed up to power the Texas Flywheel Initiative. The project will connect west Texans to the training, employers, and career navigation tools they need to step into these exciting jobs.
In a new article, SkillUp explores how, in particular, the initiative will open doors to growth and family-sustaining wages for workers who do not have a college degree but are skilled through alternative routes (STARs).
“Our goal for the Texas Flywheel is to build a new ecosystem of career-connected pathways that expand opportunity in the digital economy to millions of people in the state,” said CKF Future of Work Project Director Noah Muscente.
The Texas Flywheel Initiative opens pathways for people to discover, develop, and apply their unique gifts in ways that benefit themselves, their families, and their communities, helping more Texans live lives of meaning.It is up and running in Abilene and Lubbock, and will launch in Odessa and Midland this fall with:
- Expanded training options aligned to data centers and supporting industries;
- Strong employer partnerships that will streamline hiring; and
- Increased outreach to ensure STARs know these pathways exist and are attainable.