Austin launches Infrastructure Academy to build workforce for $25B in upcoming projects
Mar 26, 2025
AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin has roughly $25 billion of infrastructure projects in its pipeline right now, according to city leaders. Think the airport expansion, the convention center rebuild and the I-35 project.
But to make those major infrastructure projects happen, the city needs a workforce, an
d is hoping to keep that workforce as local as possible. A couple years in the making, Austin's Infrastructure Academy launched to the public Wednesday to help accomplish just that.
"Our economic development paradigm for a long time in Austin has been, 'look at the number of new jobs that get created this year'…what was missing in that, in my opinion, was the person," Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said.
Gale McNelty was one of the hundreds of people who showed up to the Infrastructure Academy job fair Wednesday. McNelty said she walked away with six potential interview opportunities.
"I learned that there's a lot of jobs out there, you just have to have the skills. I found what I need," McNelty said.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Austin Infrastructure Academy tees up spring launch as billions in transit projects progress
The Infrastructure Academy is run by Workforce Solutions. Think of it as a career navigation all-in-one which wraps in training opportunities and support services (transportation or child care, for example).
"We're creating 10,000 jobs a year in mobility and infrastructure industry. That means that to build out the airport, I-35, the light rail system, we need skilled workers and what we want is we want local Austinites to be able to have the skills to compete and get these great jobs," said Tamara Atkinson, the CEO of Workforce Solutions Capital Area.
No surprise, that sentiment was something Austinites at the event told us was important to them too.
"Because a lot of people are without jobs and you're losing your homes and stuff because you don't have employment and don't know how to go about getting employment," McNelty said.
You can find more details about the Infrastructure Academy and how to get involved here. ...read more read less
