Higher education costs, a booming population and aging workforce are all challenges identified by health care executives at the state and local level in a first-time health care forum held at Austin PBS in August.
Author: hahnwebdev
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More than 2,000 Austin-area kids will get free or low-cost after-school care this year
Twenty-seven schools in the Austin area are getting free or low-cost after-school care programs this year thanks to funding from a tax rate increase Travis County voters approved in 2024.
The programs will open at schools with the most economically disadvantaged students in the Austin, Manor and Del Valle school districts. More than 2,000 pre-K and elementary school students are expected to participate. The county is working on getting after school programs to Pflugerville ISD, too, according to county documents.
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Travis County, school districts partner to expand child care access
The first contracts funded through a tax rate increase approved by voters in November and aimed at improving access to child care could be approved Tuesday by Travis County commissioners.
Three school districts — Austin, Del Valle and Manor — will use $4.85 million each year to fund 2,000 child care seats during and after the school day. Commissioners also are expected to approve a letter of intent to nonprofit Workforce Solutions Capital Area that $24.4 million will go toward contracts with child care providers next year.
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How Homewatch Caregivers of Austin Empowers Growth Through Earn & Learn
When Homewatch Caregivers of Austin launched in December 2023, their mission was clear: deliver compassionate, personalized in-home care to individuals and families across the Austin area. But like many new businesses, they faced a critical challenge—how to build a strong, reliable team with limited resources.
Through the Earn & Learn service offered by Workforce Solutions Capital Area (WFS), Homewatch found more than just staffing support—they found a strategic partner committed to workforce development and long-term business success.
Why it matters: As a newly established in-home care agency, Homewatch needed a dependable workforce to meet growing client needs. However, with tight startup budgets, recruiting and training qualified employees posed a significant hurdle.
That’s where the Earn & Learn service made the difference. By providing funding support for on-the-job training, Earn & Learn is assisting Homewatch to build its team without compromising service quality or financial stability.
Through our Earn & Learn service, Homewatch accessed a diverse talent pool and filled essential care positions using WFS Capital Area’s Reverse Referral model, which allows employers to directly refers a current employee or a candidate for employment to Workforce Solutions.
This streamlined approach allowed Homewatch to refer promising candidates for subsidized training and employment, reducing hiring risks and accelerating onboarding. The partnership also opened doors to attend local hiring events and tap into a network of job-ready individuals seeking purpose-driven careers in healthcare.
Angelica Hernandez Since joining the Earn & Learn initiative in November 2024, Homewatch Caregivers of Austin has made significant strides in workforce development:
- They successfully placed candidates through community hiring events, including Workforce Solutions’ healthcare-focused job fairs.
- Homewatch advanced their employee Angelica Hernandez to a Care Coordinator role earning $21 per hour through On-the-job training.
- Another employee is being upskilled through the Reverse Referral process and will be transitioning into a new role as an Office Administrative Assistant, showcasing Homewatch’s dedication to internal growth and employee advancement.
- Homewatch recruited Carilu Ledezma (at top) as a caregiver at a healthcare industry job fair hosted by WFS Capital Area in July. Carilu is earning $17.25 an hour in her new role.
What they’re saying: “As small business owners, the board’s hiring events and employer services have been a turning point for us,” Maresha and Imo Eshiet, owners of Homewatch Caregivers of Austin, said. “Running a new agency means every hour matters, and this support gave us the time to focus on building the right team from within. We have been able to empower our employees with opportunities, resources, and confidence to grow alongside us.
“That investment has not only strengthened our business, it has allowed us to stay true to our purpose of providing compassionate care while creating a workplace where people feel valued and supported. We are deeply grateful for this partnership and the difference it has made for our business and our team.”
The success of Homewatch Caregivers of Austin’s participation in Earn & Learn illustrates the true power of collaboration. With support from WFS, they have filled vital positions and invested in their employees’ futures—building a stronger, more resilient workforce.
Our tailored solutions at various levels of support can assist your business with awareness-raising, training, placement, and upskilling. Learn more and contact us to begin.
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Tamara Atkinson is joining Goodwill Central Texas
Tamara Atkinson is going to Goodwill for her next job.
Atkinson will join the executive team for Goodwill Central Texas and lead the nonprofit’s workforce development efforts as chief impact officer and president of workforce advancement strategy, according to an Aug. 13 announcement. She will take on the role on Oct. 29.
Atkinson is currently CEO of Workforce Solutions Capital Area. It was announced earlier in August that she would step down from that position, which she has held since 2016, on Sept. 19.
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Tamara Atkinson to step down as CEO of Workforce Solutions Capital Area
One of Austin’s key nonprofits that focuses on workforce development is undergoing a leadership transition.
Tamara Atkinson, the longtime CEO of Workforce Solutions Capital Area, is stepping down from her role on Sept. 19, the group announced Aug. 5. Yael Lawson, the organization’s chief operations officer and a longtime employee, will step into the role in an interim capacity on Sept. 22.
No specific reason was given for Atkinson’s departure, but the announcement said she is departing with the full support of Workforce Solutions’ board and that “details about her next professional chapter will be announced in the coming weeks.”
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PFLUGERVILLE, TEXAS: How a Growing Mid-Sized Texas City Builds a Technical Workforce
The holy grail of economic development is workforce development, and no one understands that better than Jerry W. Jones Jr., executive director of the Pflugerville Community Development Corporation (PCDC).
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Austin Infrastructure Academy sees early success
The Austin Infrastructure Academy is seeing early returns on its efforts to bolster Austin’s construction and mobility workforce, and talent should start to exit the new pipeline soon.
The academy, which launched in March, has seen notable interest from the private sector and job seekers over its efforts to connect locals to training opportunities in the construction industry. It was spawned by projections that Austin won’t have enough workers as it embarks on at least $25 billion in projects, including light rail expansions, I-35 upgrades, a new convention center and a larger airport — not to mention the usual private sector construction.
“We’ve seen slow momentum, but I think it’s going to increase over the next couple of months,” said Yael Lawson, the chief operations officer for Workforce Solutions Capital Area, which oversees the academy. “We’re training people now, so we’re going to start to see them graduating and hired.”
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June 2025 Manufacturing Industry Snapshot, Austin Metro
From robotics classrooms to registered apprenticeships, the journey to a thriving manufacturing workforce begins early and grows with every opportunity to learn, train, and upskill. In Central Texas, that journey is backed by strong regional partnerships linking K12 systems, higher education, and employers.
In-demand roles like CNC programmers and industrial engineers have grown by over 40% since 2019.
Students and veterans alike are engaging with hands-on training through programs like Semiconductor Technician Advance Rapid Start (STARS) and the Make It Center.
Employers are retaining top talent through zero-cost apprenticeship models, supported by local workforce boards and training providers.
Explore how Workforce Solutions Capital Area, Opportunity Austin, Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area, and the Austin Regional Manufacturers Association are aligning efforts to grow and sustain our regional talent pipelines.
Read the white paper for workforce trends and industry partnership highlights.
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Megan Fortson appointed to lead Austin Infrastructure Academy
Workforce Solutions Capital Area has picked a leader to oversee a major push to bolster the region’s workforce.
Megan Fortson, who is now senior director of the Austin Infrastructure Academy, will help build out the infrastructure and construction workforce needed in the region to complete $25 billion in projects.
The Austin Infrastructure Academy — a collaboration between Workforce Solutions Capital Area, the city of Austin, Austin Community College and other local governments — officially launched in March. It’s tasked with helping fill the need for 10,000 new jobs annually in the infrastructure field that are being created through major projects like the expansion of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, the expansion of I-35, the redevelopment of the Austin Convention Center and the buildout of the Austin Transit Partnership’s light rail project.