Austin Infrastructure Academy launches navigators, scholarships after $5 million city investment

Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes convened the Economic Opportunity Committee on Sept. 19 to receive an update on the Austin Infrastructure Academy, a city-backed workforce initiative designed to connect local residents to training and jobs in construction, transportation and skilled trades.

The interim CEO of Workforce Solutions, Yael Lawson, told the committee the Infrastructure Academy serves as a networked “ecosystem of partners” — including Austin Community College (ACC), unions, training providers and community organizations — rather than a single physical facility. “We help employers find the workers that they need, connect local people to local jobs, support people in building long term careers, and we remove barriers such as the training costs, child care, transportation,” Lawson said.

The program launched in March 2025 after a planning phase that included a study funded by CapMetro and ATP. Lawson said the city council approved $5,000,000 to put the initiative into action and that ACC has offered space on a new campus being built by the airport. Private and philanthropic support cited during the presentation included grants or funding from Texas Mutual and Google to support planning and hiring.

Lawson descr…