Austin infrastructure academy — CONNECTING LOCAL TALENT TO FAMILY-SUPPORTING CAREER PATHWAYS

The Challenge

Austin faced a monumental challenge: with $25 billion invested in infrastructure projects through 2040, the city needed to fill 10,000 infrastructure jobs annually. Our comprehensive approach included conducting labor forecasts, assessing existing training programs, and facilitating extensive stakeholder engagement across training providers, employers, job seekers, and community organizations.

The Civic Solution

We developed the Austin Infrastructure Academy—a first-of-its-kind public-private network that integrates recruitment, comprehensive training, and childcare support to connect local talent with career pathways in construction, utilities, and operations. Our solution addressed Austin's affordability challenges by creating family-supporting jobs while enhancing regional mobility infrastructure development.

The Academy operates through a comprehensive sector partnership bringing together training providers, employers, job seekers, project sponsors, economic development entities, and community organizations. This collaborative approach serves as a centralized training hub that removes barriers to workforce participation through wraparound services. We created public and private funding mechanisms, forecasted budget requirements, and designed a dynamic service delivery model that aligns with both employer needs and job seeker aspirations. This innovative approach ensures long-term economic growth and equitable job access across the region.

The Impact

Our work with the Austin Infrastructure Academy demonstrates how strategic workforce development can leverage historic infrastructure investments to create lasting community impact. The initiative earned the National Association of Workforce Boards' 2024 "Trailblazer Award," recognizing it as the most innovative workforce program in the country. By connecting local talent with high-demand career opportunities, we've created a model that other regions can adapt to address their own workforce challenges while building stronger, more resilient communities.