The United States Conference of Mayors passed a resolution supporting the implementation of workforce development programs for infrastructure projects in cities and towns across the country similar to the Austin Infrastructure Academy. It further resolves that these programs shall serve as a training hub contributing to community-based and union-based training programs designed to support real-time needs identified by both job creators and job seekers.
Category: Newsroom
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New partnership aims to be a one-stop-shop for food and job assistance in Austin
Two organizations are coming together to better serve the Austin community. Wednesday, the Central Texas Food Bank and Workforce Solutions Capital Area announced their partnership, which aims to create a one-stop-shop for members to get their food and job needs.
Being unemployed and needing help putting food on the table often go hand-in-hand. Now, people can get help with both at the Central Texas Food Bank headquarters.
“We’re bringing staff resources right here co-located with the Central Texas Food Bank to bring workforce, job training services to customers that also receive services from the food bank,” Workforce Solutions Capital Area CEO Tamara Atkinson said.
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Food, job assistance easier to access in new nonprofit partnership
The Central Texas Food Bank is partnering with Workforce Solutions Capital Area to create a one-stop shop for community members to receive food and job assistance services.
Both services will now be provided under one roof at the Central Texas Food Bank headquarters on Metropolis Drive. This comes as Travis County sees an increase in demand for these types of services.
Sari Vatske, the CEO and President of the Central Texas Food Bank, said last year the food bank nearly saw 178,000 food insecure individuals and is anticipating about 208,000 people to go through their doors this year. That demand can be attributed to population growth and the high cost of living.
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Central Texas partnership creates one-stop-shop for food and job resources
The Central Texas Food Bank is teaming up with Workforce Solutions Capital Area to offer people job resources when they come in for food.
There are Workforce Solutions career counselors stationed right inside the Benefits and Emergency Services offices at the food bank. Anytime anyone visits to get food, they can also be connected to in-demand jobs or career training and development opportunities.
Workforce Solutions Capital Area CEO Tamara Atkinson said after looking at data, the group noticed its clients often need support, like food assistance, so this partnership makes sense.
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Austin-Round Rock area unemployment rate increases slightly, symposium set to boost local workforce skills
The Texas Workforce Commission reported earlier this month the unemployment rate in the Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area rose from May 2024 to June 2024.
The unemployment rate rose to 3.8%, or 56,143 unemployed residents. Despite this uptick, Austin’s unemployment rate remains below the state and national averages of 4.5% and 4.3%, respectively.
In response to the unemployment rate, the Workforce Solutions Capital Area will host a director and teacher symposium in August in collaboration with Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area.
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High school students work with Austin Transit Partnership, learn about careers in transportation engineering
Ten Austin-area high school students went through an seven-week summer internship with the Austin Transit Partnership.
It was a chance to teach the students about careers in transportation engineering and planning.
The Austin area is filled with multiple billion-dollar infrastructure projects in the pipeline.
“We’re going to need about 10,000 more workers annually forecasting after 2040, if we’re going to deliver on the promise of these projects,” said Workforce Solutions Capital Area Director of Mobility Industry Partnerships Sarah Garza.
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Elon Musk plans to move X, SpaceX HQs to Austin
Elon Musk’s Austin empire is about to grow a lot more. The enigmatic serial entrepreneur and world’s richest man said July 16 on X that he will move X’s headquarters from San Francisco to Austin.
Workforce Solutions Capital Area said in the case of ‘X,’ it brings more tech jobs for our workforce.
“Tech is already one of those industry that is growing and expanding. There’s a 3.2% of the industry expected to grow over the next few years the tech industry is already booming and expanding,” said Senior Director of Business Engagement Amber Warren.
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City of Pflugerville proposes plans for community development federal funding, seeking community input
Pflugerville City Council received an update June 25 regarding the five-year strategic plan being developed to secure Community Development Block Grant, or CDBG, funding for fiscal year 2024-25. Council members also opened the first of two public hearings to receive community input.
Annually, the city of Pflugerville receives grant funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD. The money is intended to support affordable housing, suitable living environments—including infrastructure—and expand economic opportunities, according to city documents.
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Design underway for Austin Infrastructure Academy following $225K in contributions
Nearly four months after city officials announced a central hub to train and support $25 billion in capital projects through the Austin Infrastructure Academy, Workforce Solutions Capital Area announced $225,000 in contributions to the facility’s design.
WSCA officials announced June 26 that Texas Mutual Insurance Company and Google.org contributed $125,000 and $100,000, respectively, for design.
“We extend our deepest gratitude to Texas Mutual and Google for contributing to the creation of this one-of-a-kind academy for our community that will equip our workforce with the skills and education needed to secure quality careers in mobility and infrastructure,” WSCA CEO Tamara Atkinson said in a news release. “Austin’s infrastructure workforce employs over 222,000 residents and is expected to grow by more than 80% by 2040, so the academy is a critical component to help prepare the current and future infrastructure workforce to meet this high demand.”